Effect of antivirals on human corneal cells in vitro.

Toxic effects of 10 antiviral substances [9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-guanine (ACV), E-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU), 5-(2-chloroethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (CEDU), 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl) guanine (DHPG), (S)-9-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl) adenine (HPMPA), (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl) cytosine (HPMPC), 5'-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IDU), phosphonoformic acid (PFA), 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl) adenine (PMEA) and 5-trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (TFT)] on uninfected human corneal cells were evaluated in two experimental models (undisturbed adherence and growth, and wound closure) under continuous drug exposure. The antiviral drugs were ranked in order of toxicity in each of the tests. The influence on toxicity of different experimental parameters such as initial cell density, length of exposure and trauma, was evaluated. There was significant interaction between toxicity and length of exposure. In undisturbed cultures antiviral compounds ranked as follows: PMEA