Impact of NSAID and steroids on cartilage destruction in murine antigen induced arthritis.

Cartilage destruction in arthritic joints is characterized by enhanced degradation of proteoglycans and inhibition of chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis. This combination rapidly results in marked matrix depletion. Common nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) clearly suppress joint swelling and to some extent cellular infiltration, but do not protect against cartilage damage. In contrast, steroids given either orally or as a local depot preparation normalize chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis. Similar effects can be reached using neutralizing antibodies against interleukin 1.