Cobalt and chromium species are released in the local tissues as a result of tribo-corrosion, and affect bone cell survival and function. However we have little understanding of the mechanisms of cellular entry, intracellular distribution, and speciation of the metals that result in impaired bone health. Here we used synchrotron based X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and fluorescent-probing approaches of candidate receptors P2X7R and divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT-1), to better understand the entry, intra-cellular distribution and speciation of cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) in human osteoblasts and primary human osteoclasts. We found that both Co and Cr were most highly localized at nuclear and perinuclear sites in osteoblasts, suggesting uptake through cell membrane transporters, and supported by a finding that P2X7 receptor blockade reduced cellular entry of Co. In contrast, metal species were present at discrete sites corresponding to the basolateral membrane in osteoclasts, suggesting cell entry by endocytosis and trafficking through a functional secretory domain. An intracellular reduction of Cr 6þ to Cr 3þ was the only redox change observed in cells treated with Co
2-4We, and others, have previously shown that these concentrations of Co and Cr affect bone cell survival and function in-vitro, 5-7 and associate with systemically measurable effects on bone mass and bone turnover in patients. 8 In order to understand the adverse effects of metal debris exposure on bone health and how these effects may be mitigated, it is necessary to understand how metal enters the relevant cell populations, and their intracellular distribution and speciation characteristics. In this study we have used microfocus X-ray spectroscopy, an analytical technique that uses highenergy X-ray beams derived by synchrotron radiation, to determine the chemical form and oxidation state of an element in microscopic samples.9-11 Specifically, we have used Microfocus X-ray fluorescence (m-XRF) to measure the elemental distribution and micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (m-XANES) to characterize the chemical form of the metals in human bone cells.We also investigated the role of two candidate metal transporters, the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) and the divalent metal transport-1 (DMT-1), in the cellular entry of Co and Cr in human bone cells. The P2X7R is expressed in both human osteoblasts and osteoclasts and plays an important role in bone homeostasis.
12,13The DMT-1 is a ubiquitously expressed transporter of ferrous iron and a broad range of other divalent cations, including Co 2þ