High macrophage-colony stimulating factor levels in synovial fluid of loose artificial hip joints

To clarify a macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) related mechanism of aseptic loosening of artificial hip joints.

Synovium-like interface tissues between bone and prosthesis, regenerated pseudocapsular tissues, and synovial fluid (SF) were collected from 9 patients with loose artificial hip joint at revision surgery. Tissue distribution, production site, and SF level of M-CSF in loose hip joints were investigated by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and ELISA, respectively. For a comparative assessment of the M-CSF level in loose hip joints, SF of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and mild osteoarthritis (OA) also were analyzed by ELISA.

Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of M-CSF immunoreactive cells mainly in the interface tissues between bone and prosthesis and inner pseudocapsular tissues, both of which were in contact with joint fluid. RT-PCR analysis confirmed the local production of M-CSF in these periprosthetic tissues. Significantly higher M-CSF level in loose hip joint fluid than in active RA and mild OA fluid was revealed by ELISA.

High M-CSF level in loose hip joint fluid suggests transportation of M-CSF from production sites to joint fluid. This indicates that not only polyethylene wear particles (reported to induce foreign body reaction at the bone-prosthesis interface), but also M-CSF, abundant in joint fluid, are transported to and affect the interface. Thus, M-CSF is locally produced in periprosthetic tissues of loose hip joints and possibly contributes to periprosthetic weakening and osteolysis via joint fluid, leading to prosthetic loosening.