Tumor necrosis factor alpha and epidermal growth factor act additively to inhibit matrix gene expression by chondrocyte.

The failure of chondrocytes to replace the lost extracellular matrix contributes to the progression of degenerative disorders of cartilage. Inflammatory mediators present in the joint regulate the breakdown of the established matrix and the synthesis of new extracellular matrix molecules. In the present study, we investigated the effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on chondrocyte morphology and matrix gene expression.