INTERLEUKIN-11 (IL-11) IN ASEPTIC LOOSENING OF TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT (THR)

The chronic inflammatory response to abrasion particles from total hip replacement (THR) is believed to cause osteolysis and to contribute t o prosthetic loosening. The expression of interleukin-11(IL-11) and it s major cellular sources in the interface and pseudocapsular tissues o btained from total hip revisions performed for aseptic loosening were investigated. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) and alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) methods were used for st aining and VIDAS image analysis for quantification. IL-11 was found in the interface and pseudocapsular tissues in the aseptic loosening of THR. IL-11 containing cells were more numerous in the interface (760 /- 171 cells) and pseudocapsular tissues (684 +/- 171 cells) than in t he control synovial tissue (235 +/- 68 cells). Because IL-11 is an imp ortant component of cytokine network mediating osteoblast-osteoclast c ommunication in normal and pathological bone remodeling, the current f indings suggest that IL-11 may contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis and to the loosening of THR.