INTERFERON-ALPHA 2B INHIBITS PROLIFERATION OF HUMAN TENONS CAPSULE FIBROBLASTS

To evaluate the potential of interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-alpha) as an antifibrotic treatment after glaucoma filtering surgery, we studied its ability to inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in vitro, as shown by [H-3]-thymidine incorporation. IFN-alpha inhibited fetal calf serum-induced proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in concentrations ranging from 10 to 10 000 IU/ml (P<0.001). Inhibition was also found when IFN-alpha was added prior to the mitogen (P = 0.001); this inhibitory effect lasted at least 3 days. We suggest that IFN-alpha deserves further evaluation as a possible agent for the control of ocular fibrosis.