Effects of indomethacin on secretory function of synoviocytes from adjuvant arthritis rats

In this study the effects of indomethacin on secondary inflammatory reaction and secretory function of synoviocytes were analyzed. The results show that secondary inflammatory reaction in adjuvant arthritis rats on days 16, 20 and 22 was suppressed significantly by intragastric administration of indomethacin in a dose of 2 mg/kg-1/d-1 for 10 days. Synoviocytes from adjuvant arthritis rats released a higher level of interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) than that from the normal, control group. The synoviocyte culture supernatants of adjuvant arthritis rats were able to enhance the proliferation of synovial fibroblasts from normal rats in vitro. The synovial fibroblast proliferation mediated by the synoviocyte culture supernatants of adjuvant arthritis rats treated with indomethacin was promoted further because of the inhibition of prostaglandin (PG)E2 synthesis and the enhancement of IL-1 and TNF production in the synoviocytes from these animals. These results suggest that indomethacin is an effective antiinflammatory agent, but it is disadvantageous to the repair of joint destruction.