Induction of collagenolytic and proteolytic activities in rat and human fibroblasts by anti-inflammatory drugs.

Confluent monolayers of either mouse or diploid human fibroblasts contained no measurable amounts of either collagenolytic (pH 5.5) or proteolytic (pH 7.5) activities. Within a few hours after exposure of these cells to antiinflammatory drugs, significant amounts of these enzymatic activities were demonstrable extracellularly. These activities were profoundly decreased in cultures simultaneously treated with the anti-inflammatory drugs and cycloheximide or actinomycin D.