Effects of suramin on proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro

Objective To investigate the effects of suramin on proliferation of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells (HRPECs). Methods Cultured HRPECs were treated with 300mg L-1 suramin for different times (24 ~ 168h), the cell growth curve was drawn according to cell counting and the viability of cells was determined by trypan blue exclusion; different concentrations of suramin (0, 100,200, 300, 400mg L-1) were added to HRPECs respectively, and inhibition rate of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was measured by tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay; flow cytometry(FCM) analysis was used to examine RPE cells cycles. Results Suramin could inhibit the proliferation of HRPECs in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The maximal inhibition rate of RPE cells by suramin was about 78% , and IC50 at 72h was 272mg L-1. FCM revealed that cells in G2/M phase increased 14. 2% compared to control group. Conclusion Suramin can effectively inhibit HRPECs growth in vitro, and it might be a new candidate drug of preventing for patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy.