Studies on the effects of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors on the macrophage stimulated synthesis of collagenase by rabbit chondrocytes.

Recent work from this laboratory has shown that macrophages in culture synthesize and secrete a soluble factor(s) that induces the synthesis of collagenase in primary cultures of rabbit chondrocytes (Arth. Rheum. 23, 448, 1980). The current studies were undertaken to determine the role of arachidonate metabolism in this process. Incubation of chondrocytes with MCM (Macrophage Conditioned Medium) and low doses of indomethacin (1-10 microM) had no effect on collagenase synthesis. The lipoxygenase inhibitor NDGA, indomethacin at high doses (50 microM), diethylcarbamazine and the phospholipase inhibitor dibromoacetophenone, inhibited the MCM dependent synthesis of collagenase in chondrocytes. These inhibitors did not affect collagenase activity nor did they interfere with the activation of latent collagenase. Our data indicate that although cyclooxygenase plays no role in the MCM dependent induction of collagenase in chondrocytes, lipoxygenase activity may be essential.