Cytotoxicity and macrophage cytokine release induced by ceramic and polyethylene particles in vitro

Abstract

A lthough the response of macrophages to polyethylene debris has been widely studied, it has never been compared with the cellular response to ceramic debris. Our aim was to investigate the cytotoxicity of ceramic particles (Al 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 ) and to analyse their ability to stimulate the release of inflammatory mediators compared with that of high-density polyethylene particles (HDP). We analysed the effects of particle size, concentration and composition using an in vitro model. The J774 mouse macrophage cell line was exposed to commercial particles in the phagocytosable range (up to 4.5 m). Al 2 O 3 was compared with ZrO 2 at 0.6 m and with HDP at 4.5 m. Cytotoxicity tests were performed using flow cytometry and macrophage cytokine release was measured by ELISA.