Boundary lubrication of joints: characterization of surface-active phospholipids found on retrieved implants.
BACKGROUND
The identity of the vital active ingredient within synovial fluid (SF)--to which we owe the near frictionless performance of diarthrodial joints--has been the quest of researchers for many years. Initially, hyaluronic acid (HA) was thought to be the lubricant, but it has been shown not to possess the load-bearing ability required within the physiological joint. The glycoprotein fraction of synovial fluid (lubricin) has been shown to have the same lubricating ability as synovial fluid. All or part of this is thought to be due to the surface-active phospholipids (SAPLs) present in lubricin. We characterized the SAPLs adsorbed on the surface of retrieved prostheses which have been implicated as the boundary lubricant.


METHODS
Rinsing fluids collected from the bearing surfaces of 40 prostheses removed from hip and knee revision operations were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).


RESULTS
SAPLs were detected on all retrieved implants. During the study, 8 different species of phosphatidylcholines were identified. We also determined the relative concentration of each species, which suggested that the unsaturated SAPL species predominate.


CONCLUSIONS
It is of value to know the identity of the lubricating constituents of SF, not only for the future development of artificial joints, but also in developing cures for several disease processes in which lubrication plays a role.
Gale
Lorne R
LR
Medical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia. l.gale@qut.edu.au
Chen
Yi
Y
Hills
Brian A
BA
Crawford
Ross
R
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D000099158:Proteoglycan 4
D006023:Glycoproteins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D000099158:Proteoglycan 4