Research Paper Volume 2, Issue 12 pp 990—998

Figure 2. Effects of statin on the production of matrix degrading enzymes and proteo-glycan in chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were incubated with catabolic factor, IL-1β (10 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of statin (1.0, 10.0 μM). After 48 hour-incubation, the concentrations of matrix degrading enzymes and proteoglycan were analyzed by ELISA (A: MMP1, B: MMP-3, C: MMP-13, D: proteoglycan). IL-1β stimulated the production of MMP-1, -3, and -13 by chondrocytes in control cultures (* p< 0.05 compared to each control). Statin at 10.0 μM significantly decreased the IL-1β- induced excess production of MMP-1 and -13, but not MMP-3, from chondrocytes (** p< 0.01, compared to IL-1β-stimulated group). IL-1β showed a tendency to decrease the production of proteoglycan by chondrocytes. Statin at 10.0 μM cancelled the IL-1βinduced decreases of proteoglycan production from chondrocytes in both culture conditions (** p< 0.0, compared to IL-1β-stimulated group). Data from four independent experiments were analyzed.