Figure 4

Effect of NBI-31772, a small-molecule inhibitor of the binding of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 to IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), in primary cultured human osteoarthritic chondrocytes incubated with IGF-1. Chondrocytes were incubated with (a,c) 3.3 nM or (b,d) 13.3 nM IGF-1 for 24 hours; NBI-31772 (0.1–10 μM) was added and the cells were incubated for 24 more hours, in the presence of 1.5 μCi/ml Na[³⁵SO₄]. (a,b) Total proteoglycan synthesis and (c,d) cell-associated proteoglycans calculated by the ratio of ³⁵S-labeled proteoglycans remaining in the cell layer over total proteoglycans. Data are expressed as the means and SEM of four replicates from a representative experiment (out of four independent cultures). Statistical differences between groups containing NBI-31772 plus IGF-1 and the respective control group (IGF-1 at 3.3 nM or 13.3 nM) were measured by Student's t-test. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001.