The production of cysteine protease by two human osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63 and SaOS2) was analyzed, as well as their modulation by interleukin 1beta (hIL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (hIL-6), insulin growth factor-1 (hIGF-1), oncostatin M (hOSM), leukemia inhibitory factor (hLIF) and growth hormone (hGH). Cysteine protease activities were detected using a synthetic substrate. The protease activities (especially cathepsin L activity) of both cell lines were increased significantly in the presence of hIL-1 beta, hIL-6 and hOSM. In contrast, hIGF-1 and hGH decreased these activities, and no effect was detectable in the presence of hLIF. The addition of antibodies against the gp-130 chain of the hIL-6 and hOSM receptors totally inhibited the stimulating effect of these two cytokines on cysteine protease activities. In increasing collagen type I degradation, hIL-1beta, hIL-6 and hOSM could be involved in bone resorption, whereas the inhibitory action of hIGF-1 and hGH on collagen type I degradation suggest that this factor could play a role in bone formation.