Influence of anti-rheumatic drugs on the activity of collagenolytic cathepsin in hepatic culture.

A decrease of the collagenolytic cathepsin activity was found in foetal and adult hepatic slices cultured in vitro with acetylsalicylic acid, phenylbutazone, aminophenazone, indomethacin and naproxen. The most marked decrease was found in slices treated with naproxen and indomethacin. Acetylsalicylic acid produced only a slight diminution of the enzyme activity. Studies on hepatotoxicity indicated that acetylsalicylic acid and phenylbutazone are very toxic drugs, whereas the naproxen toxicity was very low.