Elevated interleukin (IL)-1 concentrations in synovial fluid have been implicated in joint bone and cartilage destruction. Previously, we showed that IL-1 β stimulated the expression of prostaglandin (PG) receptor EP4 via increased PGE 2 production. However, the effect of IL-1 β on osteoclast formation via chondrocytes is unclear. Therefore, we examined the effect of IL-1 β and/or celecoxib on the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), receptor activator of NF- κB ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in human chondrocytes, and the indirect effect of IL-1 β on osteoclast-like cell formation using RAW264.7 cells. OPG and RANKL expression increased with IL-1 β; whereas M-CSF expression decreased. Celecoxib blocked the stimulatory effect of IL-1 β. Conditioned medium from IL-1 β-treated chondrocytes decreased TRAP staining in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that IL-1 β suppresses the formation of osteoclast-like cells via increased OPG production and decreased M-CSF production in chondrocytes, and OPG production may increase through an autocrine mechanism involving celecoxib-related PGs.