Suppression of human macrophage interleukin-6 by a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid acid.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which contributes to inflammation and tissue injury in several diseases. Thus, inhibition of IL-6 production may be a useful strategy for treatment of patients with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A synthetic nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, ajulemic acid (AjA), prevents joint damage in experimental arthritis.

Fibroblast-like synovial cells derived from synovial fluid.

Objective: To obtain fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS) from synovial fluid (SF).

Methods: SF aspirated from joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other types of inflammatory arthritis, and osteoarthritis (OA) was centrifuged and the resulting cell pellet resuspended in growth medium. After 2 days, nonadherent cells were removed.