SEM analysis of primary murine macrophage cells challenged by PE beads, in vitro 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 macrophage was challenged by polyethylene beads, in vitro and in vivo UHMWPE wear debris. The cell culture was carried out by an inverted cell culture technique. It was observed from SEM photographs of PE beads, in vitro and in vivo UHMWPE wear debris, that the mean diameter of the in vivo wear debris was the lowest and was highest for PE beads. The phagocytosis process was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) studies. It was seen from the SEM photographs that at 24 h of incubation, the phagocytosis process had just 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 observed in the SEM photographs after 48 and 72 h of incubation for in vivo and in vitro UHMWPE wear debris. The IL-6 concentration at 48 h of incubation for PE beads and in vivo UHMWPE wear debris was more than that of the 24-h incubation. No significant change in the concentration of IL-6 could be observed in the case of in vitro UHMWPE wear debris. Inverted cell culture technique could be considered as a promising method to study the phagocytosis of UHMWPE wear debris. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.