title: Effects of low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS) stimulation on human cartilage explants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS) stimulation on the anabolic state of human cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Explant cultures of human OA cartilage were stimulated for 10 min every day for 7 consecutive days using continuous-wave sonication at a frequency of 1 MHz with spatial and temporal average intensities of 0 (control), 40, 200, 500, or 700 mW/cm2. The effects of LIUS on cell proliferation were evaluated by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Proteoglycan synthesis was evaluated by the incorporation of 35S-sulfate and by Safaranin O staining. Collagen synthesis was evaluated by 3H-proline incorporation and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At an intensity of 200 mW/cm2, LIUS treatment induced the expression of collagen type II and proteoglycan measured by the incorporation of radioactivity and specific staining of the cartilage explants. However, the expression decreased again at the higher intensities of 500 or 700 mW/cm2. Ultrasound had no stimulatory effect on cell proliferation at any intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LIUS has anabolic effects on human cartilage in explant cultures, indicating a potentially important method for the repair of osteoarthritic cartilage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: B-H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: J-I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: H-S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D011509:Proteoglycans