Polyethylene particle-induced bone resorption in substance P-deficient mice

Calcif Tissue Int. 2007 Apr;80(4):268-74. doi: 10.1007/s00223-007-9005-5. Epub 2007 Apr 1.

Abstract

Aseptic loosening is the major cause of total joint replacement failure. Substance P (SP) is a neurotransmitter richly distributed in sensory nerve fibers, bone, and bone-related tissue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential impact of SP on bone metabolism in polyethylene particle-induced osteolysis. We utilized the murine calvarial osteolysis model based on ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) particles in 14 wild-type mice (C57BL/J6) and 14 SP-deficient mice. Group 1 (C57BL/J 6) and group 3 (SP-knockout) received sham surgery, and group 2 (C57BL/J6) and group 4 (SP-knockout) were treated with polyethylene particles. Analytical methods included three-dimensional micro-computed tomographic (micro-CT) analysis and histomorphometry. Bone resorption was measured within the midline suture. The number of osteoclasts was determined by counting the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells. UHMWPE-particle treated SP-deficient mice showed significantly reduced osteolysis compared to wild-type mice, as confirmed by histomorphometry (P < 0.001) and micro-CT (P = 0.035). Osteoclast numbers were significantly reduced in groups 3 and 4 compared to groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Unexpectedly, SP-deficient mice (group 3) showed a significantly increased absolute bone mass compared to wild-type mice (group 1) (P = 0.02). The findings of our murine calvaria model lead to the assumption that SP is a promoter in particle-induced osteolysis. The pathophysiology of aseptic loosening is complex, and neuropeptides are not solely responsible for the progress of implant loosening; however, we conclude that there could be coherence between neurotransmitters and particle-induced osteolysis in patients with aseptic loosening.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Resorption / chemically induced*
  • Bone Resorption / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology
  • Bone and Bones / drug effects
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism
  • Male
  • Materials Testing
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use*
  • Osteonecrosis / drug therapy*
  • Osteonecrosis / pathology
  • Polyethylenes / pharmacology
  • Polyethylenes / therapeutic use*
  • Prosthesis Failure*
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging
  • Skull / drug effects
  • Skull / pathology
  • Substance P / genetics*
  • Substance P / pharmacology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Polyethylenes
  • ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
  • Substance P