Millicurrent stimulation of human articular chondrocytes cultivated in a collagen type-I gel and of human osteochondral explants.
BACKGROUND
Here we investigate the effect of millicurrent treatment on human chondrocytes cultivated in a collagen gel matrix and on human osteochondral explants.


METHODS
Human chondrocytes from osteoarthritic knee joints were enzymatically released and transferred into a collagen type-I gel. Osteochondral explants and cell-seeded gel samples were cultivated in-vitro for three weeks. Samples of the verum groups were stimulated every two days by millicurrent treatment (3 mA, sinusoidal signal of 312 Hz amplitude modulated by two super-imposed signals of 0.28 Hz), while control samples remained unaffected. After recovery, collagen type-I, type-II, aggrecan, interleukin-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha and MMP13 were examined by immunohistochemistry and by real time PCR.


RESULTS
With regard to the immunostainings 3 D gel samples and osteochondral explants did not show any differences between treatment and control group. The expression of all investigated genes of the 3 D gel samples was elevated following millicurrent treatment. While osteochondral explant gene expression of col-I, col-II and Il-1beta was nearly unaffected, aggrecan gene expression was elevated. Following millicurrent treatment, IL-6, TNFalpha, and MMP13 gene expression decreased. In general, the standard deviations of the gene expression data were high, resulting in rarely significant results.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that millicurrent stimulation of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes cultivated in a 3 D collagen gel and of osteochondral explants directly influences cell metabolism.
Gavénis
Karsten
K
Aachen University Hospital, Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pauwelsstr 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. kgavenis@ukaachen.de
Andereya
Stefan
S
Schmidt-Rohlfing
Bernhard
B
Mueller-Rath
Ralf
R
Silny
Jiri
J
Schneider
Ulrich
U
D000368:Aged; D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003469:Culture; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004560:Electricity; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D053674:Aggrecans; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D005782:Gels; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13