Effects of hypoxia/ischemia on catabolic mediators of cartilage in a human chondrocyte, SW1353

► IL-1β, ROS and IL-8 increased correlating to HIF-1α by hypoxia in human chondrocytes. ► IL-8 responsive to IL-1β was potentiated by hypoxia in human chondrocytes. ► Hypoxia may make cartilages prone to initiate inflammation and catabolism. ► Hypoxia per se can be a natural predisposing condition for cartilage degeneration.