Effects of the antirheumatic remedy Hox alpha - a new stinging nettle leaf extract - on matrix metalloproteinases in human chondrocytes in vitro G. Schulze-Tanzil1, P. de Souza1, B. Behnke2, S. Klingelhoefer2, A. Scheid3 and M. Shakibaei1 1Institute of Anatomy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 2Strathmann Biotech GmbH, Hamburg, Germany and 3Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Switzerland Offprint requests to: PD Dr. Mehdi Shakibaei, Institute of Anatomy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 15, D-14195 Berlin, Germany, Fax: +49-30-8445 1916. e-mail: mehshaki@zedat.fu-berlin.de
Summary. Inflammatory joint diseases are characterized
by enhanced extracellular matrix degradation which is predominantly
mediated by cytokine-stimulated upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase
(MMP) expression. Besides tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), Interleukin-1ß
(IL-1ß) produced by articular chondrocytes and synovial
macrophages, is the most important cytokine stimulating MMP expression
under inflammatory conditions. Blockade of these two cytokines
and their downstream effectors are suitable molecular targets
of antirheumatic therapy. Hox alpha is a novel stinging nettle
(Urtica dioica/Urtica urens) leaf extract used for treatment of
rheumatic diseases. Key words: Hox alpha, 13-HOTrE; Interleukin-1ß;
Matrix metalloproteinase, Chondrocyte |