Stimulation of interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta release from human monocytes by cyanogen bromide peptides of type II collagen.

Pyrogen-free cartilage fragments from patients with fracture, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis were found to stimulate the production of interleukin-1 alpha-like and interleukin-1 beta-like factor by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals and rheumatoid arthritis patients. The stimulatory cartilaginous component was type II collagen, and the major stimulatory determinant on type II collagen was found to be cyanogen bromide 11 peptide. These results suggest a possible pathogenic role of the intact cartilaginous component in interleukin-1-mediated joint destruction.