부산대학교 도서관

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease which represents a combination of several disorders leading to cartilage degradation. The production of nitric oxide (NO) by iNOS, which is stimulated by proinflammatory mediators, is involved in cartilage catabolism and should therefore be considered a potential target for therapeutic interventions. Diacerein is a slow-acting drug that may slow down the breakdown of cartilage and relieve pain and swelling. Diacerhein, in contrast to an NSAID, is a potent inhibitor of IL-1β induced NO production by chondrocytes and cartilage. This effect appeared to result from iNOS transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional events, maybe by the inhibition of the NF-κB transcription factor. This paper presents results on the influence of Diacerein on NO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]