title: Polyethylene wear particles play a role in development of osteoarthritis via detrimental effects on cartilage, meniscus, and synovium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles are known to cause periprosthetic osteolysis, its interaction with other intra-articular tissues in the case of partial joint arthroplasties is not well understood. We hypothesized that UHMWPE particles per se would interact with intra-articular tissue, which by acting as inflammatory reservoirs, would subsequently induce osteoarthritic (OA) changes. Our goal was to assess the inflammatory response, phagocytic activity, as well as apoptosis of intra-articular cells in the presence of UHMWPE particles in vitro, and the in vivo response of those tissues after intra-articular injection of particles in a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cell types were used for the in vitro study; chondrocytes, meniscal fibrochondrocytes, and synoviocytes. Each cell type was cultured with two different concentrations of UHMWPE particles. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production, phagocytosis, and apoptosis were analyzed. In vivo experiments were done by injecting two concentrations of UHMWPE particles into normal and murine OA model knee joints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vitro experiments showed that UHMWPE particles increase pro-inflammatory cytokine and mediator (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, Nitric Oxide, and Prostaglandin E2) production, phagocytosis of particles, and apoptosis in all cell types. In vivo experiment showed degeneration of cartilage and meniscus, as well as synovitis after particle injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UHMWPE wear particles per se exert detrimental effects in cartilage, synovium, and meniscus of the knee joint resulting in pro-inflammatory cytokine release, phagocytosis of particles and apoptosis. Particles induced and exacerbated OA changes in a murine model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5 Wonchon-dong, Youngtong-gu, Suwon, Kyounggi-do 443-721, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: doytheboy@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: B-H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: D-W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011095:Polyethylenes; C111601:ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
keywords: Osteoarthritis; Partial joint arthroplasty; Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene; Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty; Wear particle