The effect of triamcinolone acetonide, sodium hyaluronate, and chondroitin sulfate on human endothelial cells: an in vitro study.

Purpose: To report the in vitro effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TA), sodium hyaluronate (SH), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and their combination on human endothelial cells.

Methods: The antiangiogenic proprieties of 2 formulations of TA (TA-1 and TA-2), 2 formulations of glycosaminoglycan-containing viscoelastic agents (V-1 and V-2), and the association of TA-1 and V-1 were investigated. Their effect on angiogenesis was tested using human endothelial cells cocultured with human fibroblasts and myoblasts. After fixation and staining for CD31, a colorimetric output was obtained. A BCIP/NBT-buffered substrate allowed image analysis of tubule formation.

Results: Both formulations of TA significantly reduced tubule formation as compared with controls (p<0.01). Moreover, the antiangiogenic effect of TA-1 was maintained when combined with V-1 (p<0.01).

Conclusions: Triamcinolone acetonide alone or in combination with hyaluronate and chondroitin sulfate is able to significantly reduce human endothelial cell proliferation in an in vitro model.