Interactions between human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts in co-culture.
OBJECTIVE
To imitate the in vivo joint situation and to allow cell interactions, a co-culture system of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts from a single joint was established and characterized with or without stimulation by IL-1 beta.


METHODS
Culture settings included chondrocytes in alginate alone, synovial fibroblasts in monolayer alone and a co-culture of both. Proteoglycan (PG) synthesis was measured by 35S-incorporation, PG content by a dimethylmethylene blue assay, DNA content by a fluorometric assay, and prostaglandin-E2 and IL-1 beta release by ELISA.


RESULTS
In co-culture PG synthesis by chondrocytes was significantly reduced in the presence of IL-1 beta (1 ng/ml) compared to controls. PG content of chondrocyte cultures was reduced for controls and IL-1 beta treated co-cultures. Synovial fibroblasts in co-culture did not show significant change of PG synthesis or content when compared to cells in mono-cell culture. PG release into the medium was relatively high in co-cultures. IL-1 beta significantly decreased the proliferation rate of chondrocytes in co-cultures and slightly increased prostaglandin-E2 release.


CONCLUSIONS
Co-culturing of osteoarthritic chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts from a single human joint allows interactions between both entities and may offer a useful tool to study the effects of mediators or new drugs under more in vivo like conditions compared to mono-cell cultures.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. klaus.huch@medizin.uni-ulm.de
K
K
Huch
J
J
Stöve
K P
KP
Günther
W
W
Puhl
D000368:Aged; D002450:Cell Communication; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D011509:Proteoglycans; D004247:DNA; D015232:Dinoprostone