Influence of antirheumatic drugs on nitric oxide and interleukin 8 production in human articular chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether antirheumatic drugs can inhibit chondrocyte nitric oxide and interleukin 8 (IL-8) production.


METHODS
IL-1beta stimulated human chondrocytes were incubated with indomethacin, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, dexamethasone, and methylprednisolone. Nitric oxide was detected as nitrite; IL-8 was detected by a radioimmunoassay method.


RESULTS
Nitric oxide production was partly (< or = 50%) inhibited and IL-8 almost completely suppressed (> 80%) by dexamethasone and methylprednisolone. Sulfasalazine in pharmacological concentration and indomethacin slightly increased IL-8. No effect of methotrexate on nitric oxide or IL-8 production was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone and methylprednisolone are inhibitors of human chondrocyte nitric oxide production, although to a lesser extent than for IL-8 production. Indomethacin, sulfasalazine, and methotrexate had no major influence on these mediators.
De Gendt
C M
CM
Department of Immunology, Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen, Belgium.
De Clerck
L S
LS
Bridts
C H
CH
Verbruggen
A
A
Stevens
W J
WJ
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009569:Nitric Oxide