TY - JOUR T1 - Antipermeability and antiproliferative effects of standard and frozen bevacizumab on choroidal endothelial cells JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Br J Ophthalmol SP - 827 LP - 831 DO - 10.1136/bjo.2006.109702 VL - 91 IS - 6 AU - Swaantje Peters AU - Sylvie Julien AU - Peter Heiduschka AU - Salvatore Grisanti AU - Focke Ziemssen AU - Martin Adler AU - Ulrich Schraermeyer AU - Karl-Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt Y1 - 2007/06/01 UR - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/91/6/827.abstract N2 - Background: Bevacizumab is an antiangiogenic compound developed to target tumour vessels. Its off-label use in ophthalmology requires in vitro testing on ocular cells. Aim: To quantify the antipermeability and antiproliferative effects of bevacizumab on cultured choroidal endothelial cells (CECs). It was examined whether deep-freezing of bevacizumab attenuates its antiangiogenic activity. Methods: Porcine CECs were cultured in permeable insert systems. Permeability of the cell monolayers was quantified by a fluorescent isothiocyanate-dextran assay after treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; 20–100 ng/ml) alone and in combination with bevacizumab (0.1–1 mg/ml). Proliferation of the CECs was tested using a “wound scratch” assay. The experiments were repeated with bevacizumab after freezing at −20°C for 5 days. Results: Bevacizumab significantly reduced VEGF-induced permeability in a dose-dependant manner. A molar ratio of 2.6:1 of bevacizumab to VEGF was required for complete blocking of VEGF-induced rise in permeability. CEC proliferation was significantly blocked by bevacizumab (0.5 mg/ml). Thawed bevacizumab after deep freezing showed a moderate, but not statistically significant loss in activity. Conclusion: Bevacizumab significantly reduces VEGF-induced permeability and proliferation of CECs. Freezing and thawing of bevacizumab will affect its biological activity. ER -