SEM analysis of primary murine macrophage cells challenged by PE beads, invitro and in vivo UHMWPE wear debris and evaluation of subsequent release of IL-6

In this work, we have presented our results when primary murine mouse macro phage was challenged by polyethylene beads, in vitro and in vivo UHMWPE wea r debris. The cell culture was carried out by an inverted cell culture tech nique. It was observed from SEM photographs of PE beads, in vitro and in vi vo UHMWPE wear debris, that the mean diameter of the in vivo wear debris wa s the lowest and was highest for PE beads. The phagocytosis process was con firmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies. It was seen from the SEM photographs that at 24 h of incubation, the phagocytosis process had ju st begun for PE beads, and finally, the PE beads are completely engulfed at 72 h of incubation. On the other hand, not much difference could be observ ed in the SEM photographs after 48 and 72 h of incubation for in vivo and i n vitro UHMWPE wear debris. The IL-6 concentration at 48 h of incubation fo r PE beads and in vivo UHMWPE wear debris was more than that of the 24-h in cubation. No significant change in the concentration of IL-6 could be obser ved in the case of in vitro UHMWPE wear debris. Inverted cell culture techn ique could be considered as a promising method to study the phagocytosis of UHMWPE wear debris. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.