Mseleni disease serum is not harmful to cultured chondrocytes

The origins of Mseleni disease, an acquired polyarticular degenerative joint disease, are unknown. We examined sera from 12 patients with the disease, 5 unaffected Mseleni residents, and 5 Durban residents. The effects of sera from the 12 patients with Mseleni disease on DNA or sulfated proteoglycan synthesis by cultured rabbit or human infant articular chondrocytes were no different from those of control sera. Cells derived from 2 children contained no stainable DR antigens; coculture had no impact on either of the above measures of cell function.