Carteolol has cytotoxicity to human corneal epithelial cells in vitro.
The cytotoxicity of carteolol is dose- and time-dependent.
Carteolol induces G1-phase arrest and apoptosis of these cells.
The carteolol-induced apoptosis is mediated by Bcl-2 family proteins.
The pro-apoptotic pathway of carteolol is mitochondria-dependent.