The phagocytosis of rod outer segments is inhibited by selected drugs in retinal pigment epithelial cell cultures.

The effects of tamoxifen, toremifene and chloroquine on the phagocytosis of rod outer segments by retinal pigment epithelium were evaluated in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line D407 and pig retinal pigment epithelial cell culture. Retinal pigment epithelial cells were exposed to different concentrations of tamoxifen (1-20 microM), toremifene (1-20 microM) and chloroquine (1-1000 microM), and challenged with FITC-labeled rod outer segments for 24 hr. The phagocytized (bound and ingested) rod outer segments were measured fluorometrically, and the effect of the drugs on the phagocytosis was determined. The cytotoxicity of the drugs was evaluated by measuring their effects on mitochondrial enzyme activities (WST-1-test). The results showed that the test compounds inhibited the phagocytosis of rod outer segments in both D407 and pig retinal pigment epithelial cells. The phagocytic activity was more sensitive to tamoxifen (EC(50) 7.2 microM for D407 cells and 3.6 microM for pig retinal pigment epithelial cells) and toremifene (EC(50) 6.2 microM and 3.1 microM respectively) than to chloroquine (EC(50) 77.2 microM for D407 cells). The inhibition of rod outer segment phagocytosis in both cell cultures started at lower dose levels of test compounds than the cytotoxicity indicated by the WST-1-test. The experiments were carried out both in serum-free medium and serum-containing medium. Serum seemed to be a critical factor in the medium and caused difficulties in the interpretation of the results.