Macrophages in degradation of calcium phosphate compound artificial bone: an in vitro study

The isolated mice peritoneal macrophages in degradation of calcium phosphate compound artificial bone--collagen/hydroxylapatite (CHA), hydroxylapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics, have been studied by use of both Ca++, P concentration assay in cultured supernatant and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The solubility of Ca++, composition of materials increased more significantly when macrophages were inoculated than when macrophages were not seeded (P < 0.001), and it was shown that the ground materials were wrapped and phagocytized or resorbed extracellularly by macrophages under SEM, suggesting that macrophages could mediate the degradation of calcium phosphate compound artificial bone by phagocytizing and/or degrading extracellularly.