Effects of anti-arthritic drugs on proteoglycan synthesis by equine cartilage

The concentration-effect relationships of phenylbutazone, indomethacin, betamethasone, pentosan polysulphate (PPS) and polysulphated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), on proteoglycan synthesis by equine cultured chondrocytes grown in monolayers, and articular cartilage explants were measured. The effect of PSGAG on interleukin-1beta induced suppression of proteogycan synthesis was also investigated. Proteoglycan synthesis was measured by scintillation assay of radiolabelled sulphate (35SO4) incorporation. Polysulphated glycosaminoglycan and PPS stimulated proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocyte monolayers in a concentration-related manner with maximal effects being achieved at a concentration of 10 microg/mL. Polysulphated glycosaminoglycan reversed the concentration-related suppression of proteoglycan synthesis induced by interleukin-1beta. Neither PSGAG nor PPS exerted significant effects on radiolabel incorporation in cartilage explants. Betamethasone suppressed proteoglycan synthesis by both chondrocytes and explants at high concentrations (0.1-100 microg/mL), but the effect was not concentration-related. At low concentrations (0.001-0.05 microg/mL) betamethasone neither increased nor decreased proteoglycan synthesis. Phenylbutazone and indomethacin increased radiolabel incorporation in chondrocyte cultures but not in cartilage explants at low (0.1, 1 and 10 microg/mL), but not at high (20 and 100 microg/mL) concentrations. These findings may be relevant to the clinical use of these drugs in the treatment of equine disease.