The Effect of Antiamoebic Agents on Viability, Proliferation and Migration of Human Epithelial Cells, Keratocytes and Endothelial Cells, In Vitro

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To analyze the effect of diamidines (hexamidine-diisethionat (HD), propamidin-isethionate (PD), dibromopropamidine-diisethionat (DD)), and biguanides (polyhexamethylen biguanid (PHMB), chlorhexidine (CH)) on human corneal epithelial cell, keratocyte and endothelial cell viability, proliferation, and migration, in vitro.

Methods: For epithelial and endothelial cells a human cell line and for keratocytes primary cultures were used (n = 6 each). We used 3.9x10⁻⁴–0.1% HD, PD or DD, 3.9x10⁻⁴–0.0125% PD, 7.8x10⁻⁵–0.02% PHMB or CH concentration for 24 h to determine viability (Cell Proliferation Kit XTT), proliferation (Cell Proliferation ELISA BrdU kit), and migration using wound healing assay. Viability/proliferation/migration values of each drug were summarized as “area under curve” (AUC) together with a Mann–Whitney test.

Results: HCEC, keratocyte, and HCEC-12 viability AUC, comparing PD and PHMB (p ≤ 0.014 for all; PD better) or PD and HD (p ≤ 0.011 for all; PD better) differed significantly. Keratocyte and HCEC-12 viability AUC comparing CH and HD (p ≤ 0.027; CH better), HCEC-12 viability AUC comparing PD and HD (p = 0.005; PD better) and HCEC viability AUC comparing CH and PHMB (p = 0.014; CH better) differed significantly. HCEC proliferation AUC, comparing PD with PHMB, CH, DD, HD (p ≤ 0.016; PD worse for all) and keratocyte proliferation AUC, comparing PHMB with HD, PD (p = 0.004; p = 0.002; PHMB better for both), CH with HD, PD (p ≤ 0.001; CH better for both) and DD with PD (p = 0.043; DD better) differed significantly. Keratocyte migration AUC comparing PD with control, PHMB, CH, DD and HD differed significantly (p ≤ 0.012; PD worse for all).

Conclusions: Propamidin-isethionate as diamidine and chlorhexidin as biguanide may be used clinically to reduce cytotoxicity of antiamoebic treatment on human corneal cells. Diamidines reduce proliferation of human epithelial cells and keratocytes more than biguanides and propamidin-isethionate reduces migration of keratocytes. Therefore, in spite of lower cytotoxicity, the inhibitory effect on proliferation and migration indicates that extended use of propamidin-isethionate should be avoided in patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Acanthamoeba
• diamidine
• biguanide
• epithelial cells
• keratocytes
• endothelial cells

Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Dr. Alan Cayless for improving the use of English in the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

No financial interest.