Objective: To study the biological reason of abnormal fiber proliferation at bone-implant interface of aseptically loosened prosthesis by observing cell-to-cell communication of synoviocyte system in vitro under the stimulation of wear particles.
Methods: The synoviocyte system of normal human hip joint was established in vitro and the change of cell-to-cell communication was monitored by fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching technique (FRAP) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) after Ti alloy, CoCr alloy or UHMWPE particles suspension (1.5 mg/ml, W/V) was added into the system.
Results: Cell-to-cell communication of synoviocyte system significantly decreased under the stimulation of three kinds of particles (P < 0.01). he decreased degree was maximal in UHMWPE group and minimal in Ti alloy group (P < 0.01). The cell-to-cell communication level of fibroblast-like-cells (FCs) was significantly lower than that of macrophage-like-cells (MCs) (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Besides the effect of cytokines promoting fiber proliferation, the great amount of fibrous granuloma at bone-implant interface which has relations with aseptic loosening may be caused by the decrease of cell-to-cell communication of fibroblast under direct stimulation of wear particles.