Biodegradation of polycarbonate-based polyurethanes by the human monocyte-derived macrophage and U937 cell systems

The prominent cell type found on implanted medical devices during the chronic inflammatory response is the monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM). Using an activated in vitro cell system, it was possible to show that MDMs possess esterolytic activities that may contribute to the degradation of polyurethanes. In the present study, the U937 cell line was paralleled to the MDM cell system in order to validate the use of a cell line that could expedite studies on biomaterial biocompatibility and biostability. Using 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (PMA), the optimum differentiation time for the U937 cells was 72 h based on biodegradation, dearadative potential, and S-34-methionine uptake. After activation of the cells by resuspending from tissue culture polystyrene plates and reseeding onto a C-14-labeled polycarbonate-based polyurethane (PCNU), both U937 cells and the MDMs elicited comparable radiolabel release (measure of polymer breakdown) and esterase activity (measure of degradative potential) at 48 h, There was no difference in the effect on radiolabel release and esterase activity elicited by both cell types with inhibitors of protein synthesis, esterase activity, and phospholipase A(2). This established that both cell types likely used similar hydrolytic activities and signaling pathways to cause degradation of the PCNU. Immunoblotting demonstrated that both cell systems secreted monocyte-specific esterase and cholesterol esterase enzymes previously shown to degrade PCNUs. The U937 cell system is more convenient and reproducible than MDMs for pursuing possible biological pathways elucidating the mechanism of polyurethane biodegradation. Once established with U937s, the pathways can then be validated with the more physiologically relevant human MDM cell system. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.