Suppression of Human Rheumatoid Synovial Fibroblast MMP-2 Expression and Marix Invasion by Nutrient Synergy

M.W. Roomi, V. Ivanov, A. Niedzwiecki and M. Rath
Matthias Rath Research, Cancer Research Division, Santa Clara, CA 95050

Presented at: 
9th World Congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International, Chicago, Illinois, December 2-5, 2004.

Published in: 
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Abstract #193.

Comment

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, MMPs are expressed in synovial membranes and have been implicated in synovial tissue invasion into adjacent cartilage and bone. Standard anti- arthritic drugs, used for prolonged periods, have been associated with serious side effects. We studied the in vitro effect of a mixture of nutrients containing ascorbic acid, lysine, arginine and epigallocatechin gallate on human synovial fibroblast growth, MMP expression, and invasive potential. Our results demonstrated complete inhibition of MMP-2 expression and invasive potential of synovial fibroblasts at 500 _g/ml, suggesting this nutrient mixture has excellent potential as a safe anti-inflammatory agent.

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