Divergent effects of suramin on in vitro and in vivo assays of cartilage degradation.

Proteinases are thought to be responsible for cartilage and bone erosion noted in chronic inflammatory conditions. Suramin [8-(3-benzamindo-4-meta-1-benzamindo)naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulfonic acid], 10(-5) and 10(-4) M, inhibited the release of a mouse macrophage-derived cartilage proteoglycan-degrading enzyme. At 10(-5) M it antagonized the activity of beta-glucuronidase and cathepsin D derived from the mouse macrophage, as well as similar enzymes secreted by rat macrophages in vivo.

Three day pleural inflammation: a new model to detect drug effects on macrophage accumulation.

Mononuclear cell accumulation is of major importance in maintaining chronic inflammatory conditions. In an effort to model this phenomenon, 0.3 ml of a 1% carrageenan solution was injected into the pleural cavity of rats; at various times thereafter peripheral blood and pleural exudate samples were collected.