Synthesis of metalloproteases and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in human osteoarthritic synovial membrane is an IL-1 mediated process.

We investigated the nature of cytokines synthesized by human osteoarthritic (OA) synovium, particularly interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). We examined the capacity of recombinant human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra) to block the synthesis of metalloproteases (collagenase and stromelysin), IL-1 beta, and IL-6 in osteoarthritis (OA) synovium. Human OA synovium were incubated in the presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or increasing concentrations of rhIL-1ra. The determinations of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, IL-6, and IL-1ra in culture medium were carried out using specific ELISA. Although both IL-1 isoforms and TNF alpha could be produced by OA synovium, IL-1 beta was the predominant cytokine synthesized either in the presence or absence of LPS. Treatment of the OA synovium with an increasing concentration of rhIL-1ra (0-10 micrograms/ml) showed a dose dependent reduction of both metalloproteases and IL-6. Maximal inhibition was 70% for collagenase, 80% for stromelysin, and 76% for IL-6. LPS treated synovium also showed a consistent suppression of metalloproteases and IL-6, although a higher IL-1ra concentration was required. Conversely, IL-1 beta production was not inhibited by IL-1ra, irrespective of the concentration used and whether the membranes were LPS stimulated. These data showed that IL-1 appears to be the major autocrine cytokine involved in the stimulation of metalloproteases and IL-6 synthesis in OA synovium.