ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF HYALURONAN AND ITS ALPHA-METHYL-PREDNISOLONE DERIVATIVE IN CHONDROCYTE AND CARTILAGE CULTURES

Objective: To compare hyaluronan and its ru-methyl prednisolone deriva tive (HYC-141) with respect to their potential to directly cause tissu e damage and to protect tissues from attack by reactive oxygen species . Methods: Cartilage samples and chondrocytes were isolated from 15-da y chick embryos and were exposed to enzyme-based and activated inflamm atory cell-free radical generating systems in the presence of varying concentrations of or-methyl prednisolone, hyaluronan, and HYC-141. Tis sue and cell vitality was measured by determining the incorporation of radioactive sulphate into newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans. Resul ts: Only or-methyl prednisolone caused a significant decrease in biosy nthetic activity. All the tested substances were capable, to some exte nt, of protecting tissues and cells from damage by reactive oxygen spe cies; HYC-141 demonstrated the greatest protective effect. Conclusion: These data suggest that HYC-141 may possess certain advantages over t he individual component molecules in the local treatment of arthropath ies. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company