Objective Lots of metal ions accumulation and over-expression of receptor activator of NF-κB l igand (RANKL) around the prosthesis could be found in revision of total hip arthroplasty. To investigate the relationship between metal ions and aseptic loosening by observing the effects of Co2+ and Cr3+ ions on the expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin(OPG) from osteoblast. Methods Osteoblasts were cultured in vitro at the density of 1 × 105 cells/mL, and were divided into 2 groups according to different culture solutions. In control group, osteoblasts were cultured with normal medium without CoCl2 and CrCl3. In experimental group, osteoblasts were cultured with the medium including CoCl2 (10 mg/ L) and CrCl3 (150 mg/L) solutions. The RT-PCR and ELISA methods were appl ied to detect the mRNA expression of RANKL and OPG and protein level at 24 and 48 hours after co-cultured, respectively. Results RT-PCR revealed that the mRNA expression of RANKL and OPG could be found in two groups at 24 and 48 hours after co-cultured, the expression was higher in the experimental group than in control group, especially the expression of RANKL, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). At 24 and 48 hours after co- cultured, the ratios of RANKL mRNA to OPG mRNA in the experimental group were 0.860 and 1.232, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.695 and 0.688,P lt; 0.05). ELISA revealed that the protein level of RANKL and OPG in experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Co2+ and Cr3+ can stimulate the mRNA expressions of RANKL, OPG and secretion of those protein from osteoblasts, especially increase of the RANKL, which promotes the formation and activation of osteoblasts and the generation of aseptic loosening.
To observe the effect of different dosage of curcumin on expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the tissue of cystiform in air-pouch mouse models after the injection of polyethylene wear particles, and to investigate its mechanism of intervening inflammatory response induced by wear particles. Methods Seventy-two kunming strain mice were used to establ ish air-pouch animal models by referring to the method of Yang et al. and injecting 3 mL suspension of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene wear particles (concentration 1 × 108 cells/mL) into dorsal cyst cavity. Then the animals were randomized into 3 groups (n=24 per group): group A (control group), 0.6 mL/day normal sal ine by gavage; group B(low-dosage experimental group), 0.6 mL/day curcumin solution at a concentration of 1.6 mg/mL by gavage; group C (highdosage experimental group), 0.6 mL/day curcumin solution at a concentration of 3.2 mg/mL by gavage. General condition of the animals was observed after operation. The mice were killed 3, 7 and 14 days after operation (8 mice per group at a time), the tissue of cystiform was harvested to receive gross, histology and immunohistochemistry observation, as well as RT-PCR and Western blot detection. Results All mice survived till the end of experiment. White cystiform tissue was evident on the back of mice subcutaneously in each group. For diameter of the cyst cavity at each time point, group A was obviously greater than groups B and C, and group C was significantly less than group B. Microscope observation showed that inflammatory response in group A was ber than that of groups B and C, and group C was obviously less than group B at 7 and 14 days. There was a significant difference between groups B and C and group A in terms of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression at 7 and 14 days after curcumin del ivery (P lt; 0.05), and no significant differences were evident at 3 days (P gt; 0.05). There was no significant difference between group B and group C in MMP-2 expression at 7 days after curcumin del ivery (P gt; 0.05), and significant difference was evident at 14 days (P lt; 0.05). There was significant difference bewteen group B and group C in MMP-9 expression at 7 and 14 days after curcumin del ivery (P lt; 0.05). Nuclear translocation of NF-κB P65 was inhibited remarkably after curcumin del ivery,and there were significant differences among three groups at 7 and 14 days (P lt; 0.05), and no significant differences were evident at 3 days (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene wear particles can stimulate expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cystiform tissue. Curcumin can restrain expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cystiform tissue of air-pouch animal models, and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be regulated by the activation of NF-κB.