Role of HSP70i in regulation of biomaterial-induced activation of human monocytes-derived macrophages in culture

The functioning of an implant depends on the material properties and the wound-healing process. The latter is led by an inflammatory reaction guided mainly by monocyte/macrophage activity. This in vitro study investigated human monocytes/macrophages in culture from 2 h to 10 days on silicone, polyurethane, teflon and TCPS. Analysis of cytokine release by ELISA showed that maturing macrophages have different capacities to produce cytokines TNF alpha, IL10, IL8 and GM-CSF. The long culture-mature macrophages on all polymers produced comparable low levels of TNF alpha, IL10 and IL8. Monocytes/macrophages on polyurethane and teflon, and those on silicone only in long culture-time produced high GM-CSF amounts, where as those on TCPS exhibited low levels of GM-CSF. FACS analysis revealed that HSP70i was highly inducible after short time culture yet this high level was maintained in long culture-mature macrophages on TCPS only, whereas on other polymers the mature macrophages showed a high reduction in HSP70i level, which demonstrated a high stress-response by cells on TCPS. Accordingly, CLSM-analysis revealed low nuclear NF-kappaB in cells on TCPS and high nuclear NF-kappaB in mature macrophages on silicone and polyurethane, showing a high cellular activation on the latter two polymers. This corresponded also to the high mitochondrial activity by XTT metabolism displayed by the mature macrophages on polyurethane greater than or equal to silicone > teflon > TCPS. These data show a correlation of (1) cytokines (TNF alpha, GM-CSF) and HSP70i, (2) NF-kappaB and HSP70i by monocytes/macrophages after contact with polymers. Thus, HSP70i might be a useful molecular candidate for exploring biomaterial-induced inflammatory reaction. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.