IRON INCREASES COLLAGENASE PRODUCTION BY RABBIT SYNOVIAL FIBROBLASTS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 97  (3) , 396-402
Abstract
Ionic iron, as the chelate FeNTA [ferric nitrilotriacetate] was taken up by rabbit synovial fibroblasts in monolayer culture. Uptake was accompanied by increased production of latent collagenase and PGE2 [prostaglandin E2]. Concomitant addition of deferrioxamine, a specific chelator of Fe3+, prevented iron uptake and induction of collagenase and PGE2. Collagenase induced by iron may have a role in the pathogenesis of certain disease states associated with abnormal iron deposition in joints.