Osteoarthritis is one of the commonest causes associated with age-related damage of articular cartilage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used in osteoarthritic patient. However, long term administration of these drugs results gastrointestinal disorders. Though, most studies have demonstrated in the past that bee venom has therapeutic effect on diseases related to inflammation and pains, but its anti-inflammatory properties have not been so far studied on inflamed chondrocytes (LPS induced) invitro. For the purpose, the study was carried out to determine the effect of bee venom on porcine articular chondrocyte cell using microarray. In this study, we found that 2,235 significantly associated gene (1,404 up-regulated genes and 831 down-regulated genes) that were expressed on inflamed and non inflamed chondrocytes during proliferation. Among the 1,404 up-regulated genes and 831 down-regulated genes, known genes were 372 and 237, respectively. On the other hand, bee venom significantly reduced expression of fetuin involved in acute inflammatory reaction. Our results suggest that this study could be useful database in gene expression profiling of chondrocyte cell treated with bee venom.

In order to obtain novel genes related to the human craniofacial development, molecular cloning and sequencing, and in situ hybridization using craniofacial tissue sections were performed and followed by protein structure simulation. Totally 231 clones were obtained from the subtracted craniofacial tissue cDNA library of human embryo. Random cloning using the non-redundant clones from the craniofacial tissue of human embryo was done and obtained 398 clones from the premade human chondrocyte cDNA library. Their partial sequence data showed that 214 clones of subtracted cDNA library of craniofacial tissue were still non-redundant in Genebank search. And 20 clones among 498 clones of premade chondrocyte cDNA library were known to be undefined genes. Through in situ hybridization screening in the craniofacial tissue sections of 10 weeks old human embryo 36 clones were found to be positive in specific tissues. Depending on the cell types of sirnilar developmental origin, the positive reactions could be divided into five groups. Among the 20 clones of undefined genes from human chondrocyte cDNA library, 7 clones showed characteristic positive reaction in human cartilage tissue by in situ hybridization. From the simulated protein structure, motif analysis and in situ hybridization studies for the 7 undefined clones, Ch89, Ch96, Ch129, Ch285 clones may function in the outer space of the cell constituting a part of matrix protein complex, and Ch276 as a transmembrane protein which might partic ipate in matrix calcification around chondrocytes. Ch153 is a kind of antirnicrobial protein also acting as an inflammation mediator, and Ch334 clone is a zinc finger protein, of which expression increases in human adult tissues We presume these novel genes from human chondrocytes may provide a new path of chondrocyte development and functions of human craniofacial tissues