Characterization of immortalized human chondrocytes originated from osteoarthritis cartilage

Immortalized cloned human chondrocytes isolated from a normal (Ch-4, 8, N) and an osteoarthritis patient (Ch-8-OA) were established by introduction of recombinant SV40-adenovirus vector containing SV40 early gene. These cells exhibited continuous proliferative capacity in monolayer culture and showe d chondrocytic characteristics in that they were positive for alkaline phos phatase and collagen type II. When cells were treated with IL-1 alpha, the growth was inhibited. IL-1 alpha induced the production of IL-6, GM-CSF and TNF alpha from immortalized chondrocytes. Significantly high amounts of cy tokines including IL-6, GM-CSF and TNF alpha were produced from Ch-8-OA cel ls, even in the absence of IL-1 alpha stimulation. Interestingly, TNF alpha , exogenously added into the culture, inhibited the growth of Ch-8-OA cells . Further studies are required to clarify the different mechanisms on chond rocytes originating from osteoarthritis cartilage underlying the biological reaction to various cytokines and the production of these cytokines as com pared with chondrocytes from normal cartilages. However, the novel chondroc yte cell lines established in the present study may provide researchers wit h a useful model for studying the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.