Amidinobenzisothiazole derivatives with antidegenerative activity on cartilage

N-(Benzo[d]isothiazol-3-yl)amidines were synthesised and evaluated for their antiinflammatory activity. Encouraging results led us to evaluate these derivatives on the prevention of cartilage destruction in articular disease. Antidegenerative activity was assayed on culture of porcine nasal cartilage and diarthroidal joint human cartilage in the presence of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the culture medium were determined. The obtained results showed that all the compounds, in the presence of IL-1β, blocked the cartilage breakdown, with different behaviour. The antidegenerative activity is more evident in human cartilage.