Cartilage degradative enzymes in human osteoarthritis: effect of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug administered orally.

The activity of stromelysin and collagenase was determined in fibrillated human OA cartilage using labeled proteoglycans and type II collagen as substrates. In vitro paracetamol had no effect on metalloprotease whereas TA induced a significant inhibition of stromelysin. In cartilage and synovium from nine patients treated with TA and nine patients treated with paracetamol during 8 weeks before surgery for hip OA, stromelysin activity was significantly lower in the TA than in the paracetamol group. The results suggest that TA has a potential chondroprotective effect in OA.