Figure 3.

Cartilage matrix breakdown as measured by the release of glycosaminoglycan. Treatment of human cartilage explants with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) results in the release of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) into the media (* P < 0.01). Co-administration of progrado (2 or 10 μg/ml) blocked the IL-1β induced GAG release and resulted in a significant reduction in media levels of GAG (** P < 0.01) below the IL-1β and untreated control response. Explants treated with progrado alone (10 μg/ml) also produced a dramatic reduction in media GAG levels to that evident with progrado + IL-1β (** P < 0.01). Results are depicted as the mean ± sem.