Effects of D-penicillamine on lymphocyte modulation of synovial collagenase production.

While D-Penicillamine is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, its mechanism of action is unknown. In this study, effects of D-Penicillamine on collagenase production by adherent rheumatoid synovial cells were investigated. D-Penicillamine did not directly affect the synovial collagenase production. However, lymphocyte-free-supernatant (LFS) recovered from lymphocytes exposed to D-Penicillamine in vivo and in vitro significantly reduced collagenase production by adherent synovial cells. LFS from lymphocytes of normal subjects and from non-D-Penicillamine treated rheumatoid patients stimulated collagenase production. These investigations indicate that D-Pencillamine indirectly affects collagenase production by cultured synovial cells and suggests beneficial effects on controlling the primary disease process.