Taxol treatment of experimental proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Abstract

Taxol is a potent stabilizer of microtubules, and inhibitor of in vitro replication, migration, and contraction of fibroblasts. It has been found to limit the development of experimental tractional retinal detachments in nonvitrectomized rabbit eyes. We used taxol in vitrectomized, phakic rabbit eyes with experimentally induced proliferative vitreoretinopathy and tractional retinal detachments. Taxol was dissolved in 30% DMSO because of poor aqueous solubility. A single 0.1 ml intravitreal dose of 2 x 10(-4) M taxol in 30% DMSO was injected immediately after 250,000 heterologous corneal fibroblasts had been injected; 0.1 ml of 30% DMSO was injected into control eyes. Taxol reduced the incidence of tractional retinal detachments seen 3-4 weeks later. When taxol injection was delayed for 3 days after the initial intravitreal injection of fibroblasts into nonvitrectomized eyes, the extent of retinal detachments was reduced, but the incidence of retinal detachment was unchanged from the untreated eyes at the end of 4 weeks. These data indicate that taxol may be most useful when given early in the course of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Animal Models of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy and Their Use in Pharmaceutical Investigations

“…Therefore, many animal models are designed to introduce exogenous cells into the vitreous cavity. Cell types include autologous or homologous fibroblast cells including dermal [40, 41], conjunctival [16, 19], corneal [42] and choroidal fibroblast [21], autologous, homologous or heterologous RPE cells [43-45], and activated macrophages [39, 46]. Evidence suggests that the primary factor in the development of traction RD and membrane formation are platelet-derived factors [1].…”

Inhibition of Experimental Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy with Protein Kinase C Inhibitor (Chelerythrine Chloride) and Melatonin

“…PVR is the most common reason of failure in the treatment of vitreoretinal procedures. Previous studies have shown that different pharmacologic therapies may modify the proliferative process and improve the success of surgery [3, 4]. The migration of RPE cells is an important step in PVR.…”

Simple retinal detachments: identifying the at-risk case

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] As it is now possible to treat patients at high risk of developing PVR), 14 it is important to identify and target those patients who would benefit most from this treatment. A similar principle is used to maximise efficacy and minimise side-effects of anti-scarring therapy in glaucoma filtration surgery.…”

“…49 Laboratory and clinical studies suggest that pharmacological adjuvant therapy can modify the proliferative disease process and improve the success of surgery. There are a number of studies showing a potential benefit of a variety of pharmacological interventions including: retinoic acid, 7-17,50,51 dexamethasone, [11][12][13]52,53 colchicine, 14,15,54 taxol 16,17,55 and daunorubicin. 18,19,56 However, none of these regimens are in routine clinical use.…”