MECHANISMS OF BONE-RESORPTION - ANALYSIS OF PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINESIN PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES FROM TITANIUM IMPLANT - AN EXPERIMENTAL-DESIGN

Cytokines, and interleukin-6 in particular, are inflammatory peptide m ediators that are extensively studied as regulators of bone tissue hom eostasis. They seem to be involved in osteoclast activation and bone r esorption and probably play a role in osseointegrated implant rejectio n. In this study we investigate the ability of titanium implants to ca use an imbalance in the homeostatic equilibrium of cytokines using the peritoneal cavity of DB-A2 mice as a model. The inflammatory response was evaluated as a messenger ribonucleic acid expression determined b y the semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique in peritoneal macrophages from titanium-implanted mice. Int erleukin-6 release was detected by a specific quantitative enzyme-link ed immunosorbent assay. Our results have shown that titanium implants do not significantly stimulate the proinflammatory cytokine system com pared to the control group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test confirms, after a peak in secretion at day 1 compared with basal leve ls, a clear decrease in interleukin-6 at basal levels on following con trol at 6 and 9 days after implantation. The study of the interaction between implanted biomaterials and inflammatory mediators seems to be very promising. Perhaps a better understanding of the mechanisms of bo ne resorption could lead to finding a new clinical solution for patien ts with osseointegrated implant rejection.