Effects of chondroitin sulfate and interleukin-1 beta on human articular chondrocytes cultivated in clusters.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effects of chondroitin sulfate (ACS, a glycosaminoglycan of cartilage) with and without interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on human articular chondrocytes cultivated in clusters and in long-term (0-16 days or 16-32 days).


METHODS
Chondrocyte productions of proteoglycans (PGs), type II collagen (coll-II) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were assayed by specific radioimmunoassays applied to conditioned culture media and to clusters.


RESULTS
During the two culture periods (0-16 days or 16-32 days), ACS (100-1000 micrograms/ml) increased total PG production and had no effect on the production of coll-II by chondrocytes. During the first 16 days, ACS (500-1000 micrograms/ml) decreased total PGE2 synthesis. IL-1 beta decreased PG and coll-II productions and increased PGE2 synthesis. During the first period (0-16 days), while the cluster is forming, ACS counteracted the IL-1 beta-induced effects on PG (500-1000 micrograms ACS/ml), coll-II (100-1000 micrograms ACS/ml) and PGE2 (500-1000 micrograms ACS/ml) productions. During the second period (16-32 days), when the cluster is already formed, ACS counteracted the IL-1 beta-induced effects on total PG (100-1000 micrograms ACS/ml), coll-II (1000 micrograms ACS/ml) and PGE2 (1000 micrograms ACS/ml) productions.


CONCLUSIONS
These in vitro studies suggest that ACS is able to increase matrix component production by human chondrocytes and to inhibit the negative effects of IL-1 beta.
Bassleer
C T
CT
Laboratory of Rheumatology, University of Liège, Belgium. Corinne.Bassleer@ulg.ac.be
Combal
J P
JP
Bougaret
S
S
Malaise
M
M
D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors
D007375:Interleukin-1; D011509:Proteoglycans; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen; D015232:Dinoprostone