Effects of Triamcinolone Acetonide in Cultured Trabecular Meshwork Cells

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on the survival, nitric oxide (NO) production, and migration of cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS: After exposure to TA, indomethacin, and dexamethasone for 2 days, the survival and nitrite production of the primarily cultured human TM cells were assessed with MTT and Griess assays respectively. The effect of co-exposure to the NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, was also assessed. A migration assay was done to evaluate the effect of TA on the activity of TM cells. RESULTS: Cellular survival increased after exposure to TA at low concentration but decreased at high concentration. TA decreased the production of NO significantly (p<0.05). Exposure to indomethacin and dexamethasone revealed similar results. TA reversibly inhibited the migration of TM cells. CONCLUSIONS: TA decreases the production of NO and inhibits the migration of TM cells. TA at high concentration decreases cellular survival accompanied with decreased NO production. These effects of TA on TM cells may result in the elevation of intraocular pressure.