Effect of diacetylrhein on the phagocytosis of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and its influence on the biosynthesis of hyaluronate in synovial cells.

1. The influence of diacetylrhein on the luminol-induced chemiluminescence of zymosan-activated polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) was investigated. At a concentration of 4 x 10(-5) mol/l diacetylrhein an inhibition of about 40% was found. 2. A model for the degradation of hyaline cartilage by frustrated phagocytosis was developed, in which human polymorphonuclear leucocytes cause a release of glycosaminoglycan peptides from hyaline cartilage slices (bovine nasal septum). We observed a 20% inhibition of this release at a concentration of 10(-4) mol/l diacetylrhein. 3. Human synovial fibroblasts synthesize the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronate. As a parameter of the rate of hyaluronate synthesis we measured the incorporation of 14C-glucosamine into hyaluronate. At a concentration of 2 x 10(-4) mol/l diacetylrhein a 4-fold increase of 14C-glucosamine incorporation in the membrane fraction of the synovial cells (tryptic fraction) and a 1.6-fold elevation of glucosamine release into the medium was measured. The synovial fibroblasts show a higher (1.5-fold) glucose consumption and lactate production in the presence of diacetylrhein (2 x 10(-4) mol/l).