Comparison of the response of three human monocytic cell lines to challenge with polyethylene particles of known size and dose

The response of three human monocytic cell lines (Monomac-1, U937 and THP-1) to challenge with polyethylene particles of known size and dose was evaluated. Particles with a mean size of 0.21, 0.49, 4.3, 7.2, and 88 mum were co-cultured with the cells for 24 hours prior to the assessment of cell viability and production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF alpha. Additionally, GM-CSF and prostaglandin E-2 were measured in culture supernatants from particle stimulated U937 cells. All particle fractions were evaluated at particle volume (mum(3)) to cell number ratios of 100 : 1, 10 : 1, 1 : 1 and 0.1 : 1. None of the test fractions had any effect on cell viability. Only the response of the U937 cell line was demonstrated to be comparable to that of primary macrophages as determined in a previous study. Furthermore only particle volume to cell number ratios of 10 : 1 or greater consistently stimulated significantly enhanced levels of cytokine secretion with particles within the phagocytosable size range (0.1 to 10 mum) being the most biologically active. No response was observed when U937 macrophages were stimulated with the largest (88 mum) particles at any of the volume ratios tested in this study. These results suggest that the size and volume of polyethylene particles are critical factors in macrophage activation. In addition, the U937 cell line has been shown to be a suitable model for the in vitro study of macrophage-particle interactions. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.