[Prostaglandins in bone and cartilage metabolism]

Prostaglandins induce very probably the local intercellular communication and regulate the metabolism of bone and cartilage. They are supposed to be local mediators of mechanical stress, electric phenomena as well as of hormonal control mechanisms in cytobiologic and cytochemical reactions within the skeletal system. In-vitro prostaglandins act as potent bone and cartilage resorbing agents. In-vivo they also promote the synthesis of bone in a way that is not known as yet. Experimental investigations proved their influence on inflammatory processes, and, above all on the bone destruction in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and osteomyelitis. It is the aim of the following review to elucidate the function and metabolism of prostaglandins with regard to their clinical importance and, particularly, to orthopaedic diseases.