title: COX-1, COX-2 and articular joint disease: a role for chondroprotective agents.
abstract: It is widely accepted that whilst exhibiting clinically useful anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, the application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) does not affect the underlying pathogenesis of articular diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The demonstration of a role for COX-2 in the resolution of inflammation may partly underly the lack of disease modifying activity seen with NSAIDs in long term use in these inflammatory joint diseases. This has led to the suggestion that the anti-arthritic efficacy of these agents may be improved by altering prescribing practice such that they are not given during periods of disease remission, which may be difficult to achieve in the clinic. Alternatively, they may benefit from concomitant administration of chondroprotective agents, such as diacetylrhein, which may protect against the deleterious effects of traditional NSAIDs on cartilage degradation and, further, inhibit additional pathways such as cytokine elaboration which are important in joint destruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, William Harvery Research Institute, Barts, UK. p.r.colville-nash@qmul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Colville-Nash
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; C025292:diacerein; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases