EFFECTS OF DEXAMETHASONE ON HUMAN SYNOVIAL FIBROBLAST-LIKE CELLS, FROM OSTEOARTHRITIC JOINTS, IN CULTURE

The effect of Dexamethasone (DEX) on cell division and macromolecular synthesis was investigated in a line (Mc Coy cells, A 9) of synovial fibroblast-like cells derived from human osteoarthritic joints. DEX markedly reduced the proliferation of Mc Coy cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. The maxiamal inhibition (45 %) was found at 500 nM DEX 24 h after incubation and was accompanied by the appearance of giant macrophage-like cells. After DEX treatment cells showed increased content of DNA, proteins and RNA together with the reduction of [3H]-thymidine incorporation into the TCA-precipitable fraction. © 1990.