Effects of Suramin on DNA Synthesis of Cultured Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells in Vitro

Objective To study the effects of suramin on DNA synthesis of human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods The cultured human RPE cells were treated with different concentration of suramin,and DNA synthesis was measured with tritium-labelled thymidine deoxyribose( 3H-TdR) incorporation assay;300 mg/L suramin was added into RPE cells,flow cytometry was used to analysis cell cycle. Results Suramin could inhibit DNA synthesis of RPE cells with a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner,The maximal inhibition rate of DNA synthesis by suramin was about 78%.The percentage of cells in G 2/M phase of cell cycle increased from 11.2% to 29 8%. Conclusion Suramin can inhibit DNA synthesis of RPE cells,and might be used as a medicine for preventing and treating proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR).