The anti-proliferative effect of inhibitor of telomerase on cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells.

In order to provide a new method for treating proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), the effects of anti-proliferation and apoptosis induction of inhibitors of telomerase and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) on the cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were investigated. The rate of apoptosis cells was measured by using TUNEL on the cultured RPE cells, the co-cultured RPE cells with inhibitor of telomerase (camptothecin) or the co-cultured RPE cells with inhibitor of Hsp90 (geldanamycin). The cell proliferation status was measured in the above three groups by using MTT method. The rate of apoptosis in the RPE cells co-cultured with camptothecin or geldanamycin was increased remarkably (P < 0.05). MTT showed the rate of growth inhibition was 8.4%, 32.3% and 72.3% at the concentrations of camptothecin 1 mumol/L, 5 mumol/L, 10 mumol/L, respectively, and 6.5%, 30.9%, 71.9% at the concentrations of geldanamycin 1 mumol/L, 5 mumol/L, 10 mumol/L, respectively. It was concluded that telomerase and Hsp90 can promote the proliferation of the cultured RPE cells, while the inhibitor of them can induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of the RPE cells.