Institution: The University of Oxford
Investigators: Dr Afsie Sabokbar, Dr Guillaume Mabileau
Stream: Research Fellowship
Topic: Biology
Status: Completed
In the last decade, metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings were reintroduced in the orthopaedic field, as an alternative to standard metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) to reduce the osteolysis associated to polyethylene wear particles. However, it has recently been shown that serum concentrations of cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) ions are markedly increased in patients with MoM as compared to control (concentrations of 3 nM and 4.5 nM respectively). More recently, it has also been shown that a significant decrease in the number of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells in MoM patients was noted compared to healthy and MoP controls.
Concentration of metal ions in synovial fluid ranges between 0.02μM and 450μM, e.g., 1000 times more elevated than those noted in serum. The impact of such concentrations of metal ions on bone resorbing cells, osteoclasts, and bone forming cells, osteoblasts, is still unknown.
Our project, started at the beginning of June 2006, focused on the effects of high concentrations of metal ions on bone cells.
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