Stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis by triamcinolone acetonide and insulin-like growth factor 1 in normal and arthritic murine articular cartilage

Objective. During experimentally induced arthritis, inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis is one of the mechanisms leading to cartilage destruction. Disturbed anabolic signalling might contribute to this impaired chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis. We investigated the effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and the glucocorticoid, triamcinolone acetonide, on in vitro chondrocyte proteoglycan synthesis of articular cartilage obtained from normal and arthritic mouse knee joints. Methods. Proteoglycan synthesis was measured by 35 S sulfate incorporation and the hydrodynamic volume of newly synthesized proteoglycans was analyzed with gel chromatography