Photodynamic therapy of age-related macular degeneration and atherosclerosis

Phthalocyanine mediated photodynamic thrombosis of experimental corneal neovascularization: effect of phthalocyanine dose and irradiation onset time on vascular occlusion rate

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of phthalocyanine dose and of time interval between phthalocyanine injection and irradiation commencement on the rate of experimental corneal neovascularization photodynamic thrombosis in albino rabbits. New corneal vessels were irradiated with a diode laser (670 nm, 2 mW) after the intravenous injection of chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine. Different animals were irradiated either 5 min after the injection of different phthalocyanine doses (3, 6, 8, 12, or 14 mg/kg), or at different times (5 min, 24 h, or 58 h) after a standard phthalocyanine dose (3 mg/kg) injection. Irradiation time necessary for vascular occlusion was recorded. Decrease of phthalocyanine dose as well as delay of irradiation onset resulted in a statistically significant increase of irradiation time. Electron and light histological examination revealed platelet thrombi inside irradiated corneal new vessels. Damage in the vascular endothelial cell membrane and in intercellular contact structure was noted, leading to disorganization of the endothelial cells layer and death of most endothelial cells. These results indicate that both early commencement of irradiation after phthalocyanine injection and phthalocyanine dose increase accelerate the rate of phthalocyanine mediated corneal neovascularization photodynamic thrombosis. Thrombosis seems to result from photochemically induced vascular endothelial cell damage.

The role of glycolysis and univalent ions in phthalocyanine-sensitized photohaemolysis of human erythrocytes

Phthalocyanines sensitize human erythrocytes to red light in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of photosensitization of haemolysis of red blood cells was studied using haemoglobin release in vitro as an endpoint. We have previously shown that the cation present in the incubation medium determines the rate of photohaemolysis, with the rate increasing in the order Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, Rb+. With halogen anions, the rate increases in the order F-, Cl-, Br-. With F- in isotonic solution the rate was about two orders of magnitude slower than with Cl-, so that haemolysis was practically prevented. Fluoride slowed haemolysis at very low concentrations (less than 1 mM) with an apparent K1 of 0.1 mM in isotonic NaCl. Most of the effect disappeared when F- was added after light exposure, with a half-time of 1 min. The effect of F- was specific to phthalocyanine. Neither Photofrin-induced photohaemolysis nor gramicidin-induced haemolysis were inhibited by fluoride. Addition of 10 mM deoxyglucose prior to photosensitization enhanced haemolysis and reduced cellular ATP levels by about 50% compared to controls containing glucose. Haemolysis was preceded by a reduction in ATP levels in the presence of both glucose and deoxyglucose. No significant decrease in ATP levels was found following light exposure in the presence of 0.75 mM F-. It is concluded that glycolysis and ATP are important in preventing photohaemolysis. The protective effect of F- may be related to its inhibition of a fast early reaction which triggers the events leading to photohaemolysis induced by phthalcyanine.