Stimulation of Protein–Chondroitin Sulfate Synthesis by Normal and Osteoarthritic Articular Cartilage

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Abstract
A stimulatory effect on 35S uptake of rat costal cartilage by a commercial cartilage and bone marrow extract known as Rumalon was confirmed. In addition, the preparation was found to increase35S incorporation in vitro into chondroitin sulfate by human articular cartilage from the knee joint, both normal and osteoarthritic sites. This effect was limited to young rats, but no age limitation in effect was found with human cartilage. In other in vitro studies, the augmented 35S incorporation into chondroitin sulfate was found in fractions eluted from Dowex‐1 columns; a stimulation of incorporation of 3H‐serine into protein‐polysaccharide was also found in the same fraction. The effects of 3H‐serine and 35S uptake were augmented by addition of amino acids to the incubation medium and were inhibited by puromycin. In addition, increased incorporation of 3H‐uridine into RNA was observed in the same system.