Stimulation of human chondrocyte prostaglandin E2 production by recombinant human interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor

Abstract

In this study we have examined the effects of recombinant cytokine preparations on the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by human articular chondrocytes in both chondrocyte monolayer and cartilage organ cultures. The cytokines chosen for this study included only those reported to be present in rheumatoid synovial fluids and which therefore could conceivably play a role in chondrocyte activation in inflammatory arthritis. Of the cytokines tested, interleukin-1 (IL-1; α and β forms) consistently induced the highest levels of PGE2 production followed, to a lesser extent, by tumour necrosis factor (TNF; α and β forms). The IL-1s were effective at concentrations 2-3 orders of magnitude less t..