Description:
<jats:p>Type IX collagen and its collagenous fragments are potent stimulatory agents on human blood mononuclear cells for the production of prostaglandin E<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> and interleukin 1/mononuclear cell factor. Type IX collagen is 2–4‐fold more potent that type I and II and 1α‐, 2α‐ and 3α‐collagens. This property may be important in the destructive process of cartilage in inflammatory diseases.</jats:p>