title: Chondrocyte growth inhibition induced by homogentisic acid and its partial prevention with ascorbic acid.
abstract: Cartilage damage termed ochronotic arthritis is the major pathology occurring in adult patients with alcaptonuria. We have investigated the effects of homogentisic acid (HGA), the metabolite accumulating in patients with alcaptonuria, on the in vitro proliferation of rabbit and human articular chondrocytes and human fibroblasts. Growth of these chondrocytes in monolayer decreased proportionally to increasing concentrations of HGA (0.001 mM to 1.0 mM). Substantial growth inhibition and morphologic abnormalities of chondrocytes were produced by a concentration of HGA (0.05 mM) similar to that found in serum of patients with alcaptonuria. Human fibroblasts required higher concentrations of HGA for a comparable degree of growth inhibition. The addition of ascorbic acid (0.57 mM) reduced this growth inhibition and prevented the morphologic changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Angeles
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Seegmiller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D006713:Homogentisic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006713:Homogentisic Acid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid