INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF HYALURONAN ON NEUTROPHIL-MEDIATED CARTILAGE DEGRADATION

The effects of hyaluronan on neutrophil-mediated cartilage degradation were studied in an in vitro model. Rat peritoneal neutrophils were in cubated for up to 18 h with the neutralized cartilage of bovine nasal septa using N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine combined wit h cytochalasin B, or opsonized zymosan, as a stimulation agent of neut rophils. Hyaluronan inhibited the neutrophil-mediated cartilage degrad ation by reducing the release of sulfated glycosaminoglycans from the cartilage. Inhibitory effects were dependent on concentration and mole cular weight of hyaluronan. These results suggest that hyaluronan with a high molecular weight plays an important role in protecting the art icular cartilage in inflamed joints froin neutrophil injury.