Abstract
Although Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is the key mediator of rheumatoid arthritis, the mechanisms underlying the breakdown of cartilage and inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis have not been clear. We presented here the involvement of superoxide anion in IL-1-induced cartilage breakdown. We also demonstrated that nitric oxide plays an important role in IL-1-induced inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis.
These data suggest the significance of gas mediator in the joint destruction of rheumatoid arthritis.
