OBJECTIVE Recombinant human osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1) is an effective stimulator of human cartilage 35S-proteoglycan synthesis. The present study was conducted to determine whether stimulation of human articular chondrocytes with OP-1 can help overcome interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced suppression of 35S-proteoglycan synthesis. METHODS Human articular chondrocytes in alginate beads were maintained for 3 days in the absence (control) or presence of IL-1beta at 0.1-100 pg/ml with or without OP-1 at 50 ng/ml, in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Incorporation of 35S-sulfate into proteoglycans was quantified during the last 4 hours of culture and reported as counts per minute per microg DNA. Release of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and prostaglandin E2 into the medium was monitored by immunoassay. RESULTS IL-1beta at 10 pg/ml caused a 60% decrease in 35S-proteoglycan synthesis. This could be blocked by including 500 ng/ml IL-1Ra in the medium. The presence of 50 ng/ml OP-1 in the IL-1beta-containing medium was effective in restoring 35S-proteoglycan synthesis to the level of that found in cultures not treated with IL-1beta. The restorative effects of OP-1 and IL-1Ra were cumulative. The rate of release of prostaglandin E2 and IL-1Ra into the medium was not affected by the presence of OP-1. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of human articular chondrocytes with OP-1 cultured in the presence of FBS is effective in overcoming the down-regulation of proteoglycan synthesis induced by low doses of IL-1beta.