Author/Authors :
Behnia, Massoud Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Latifi, Alireza Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Rezaian, Mostafa Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Kharazi, Sharmin Department of Medical Nanotechnology - School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Mohebali, Mehdi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Yasami, Setayesh Department of Parasitology - Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran , Saghafi, Shiva Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Chahardoli, Reza School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Anasori, Narges Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Torkian, Hakimeh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Soleimani, Mohammad Ocular Trauma and Emergency Department - Farabi Eye Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Niyyati, Maryam Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Kazemirad, Elham Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
Background: Acanthamoebae are a causative agent of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in immunocompetent
individuals. Since access to propamidine isethionate (Brolene®) as a first-line
treatment has been limited in recent years, in the current study, we examined the effects of
pentamidine isethionate against trophozoite and cyst forms of Acanthamoeba.
Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the Department of Medical Parasitology
and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,
Iran, during 2019-2020. Pentamidine isethionate at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, 600,
800, and 1000 μM were tested against trophozoites and cyst stages of T4 genotype, at 24-
and 48-hour incubation period, and the viability was determined by trypan blue staining. In
addition, the cytotoxic effect of the drug was examined in Vero cells using the 3-(4, 5-
dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.
Results: The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of pentamidine isethionate on trophozoite
after 24 and 48h were 97.4 μM and 60.99 μM. These results on cyst after 24 and 48h were
470 μM and 175.5 μM, respectively. In MTT assay, the drug showed an inhibitory effect on
Vero cell growth with IC50 values of 115.4 μM and 87.42 μM after 24h and 48h, respectively.
Conclusion: Pentamidine isethionate exhibited an inhibitory effect on trophozoite and cyst.
Given that the trophozoicidal activity of the drug is in the safe dose, it could be suggested as
an alternative in patients with AK; however, further investigation is needed in an animal
model to confirm the data.
Keywords :
Acanthamoeba , Pentamidine isethionate , Trophozoite , Cyst , In vitro
