The effect of anti-rheumatic drugs on factors from porcine synovium inducing chondrocyte mediated cartilage degradation.

A selection of NSAID's and diphosphonates were studied in a tissue culture model of cartilage degradation utilising porcine synovium and bovine nasal cartilage. All the NSAID's significantly reduced cartilage degradation when incorporated into the synovial culture medium. Lesser reductions were recorded when preformed chondrocyte stimulating factors were used and NSAID's added at the cartilage assay stage. These findings suggested that the principle site of action of NSAID's is upon the production of chondrocyte stimulating factors. None of the NSAID's tested affected inherent cartilage degradation. Diphosphonates had the opposite effects, they increased inherent cartilage degradation but had no effect on chondrocyte mediated cartilage degradation. The relationship of these results to previous known effects of NSAID's and diphosphonates upon cartilage is discussed. In addition, correlations between chondrocyte stimulating factors, catabolin and interleukin 1 are made.