Titanium particles inhibit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic differentiation through the MAPK signaling pathway

Abstract

Metallic implants have great application in clinical orthopedics. Implants wear out in vivo due to long‐term mechanical loading. The formation of wear debris is one of the long‐term complications of prosthesis. In the case of artificial joint replacement in particular, aseptic loosening is the most common reason for secondary revision surgery. Previous studies suggested that wear debris caused aseptic loosening mainly by promoting osteolysis around the prosthesis. In this study, titanium particles, the most commonly used particles in clinical practice, were selected to simulate wear debris and explore the influence of titanium particles on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Our results show that titanium particles can significantly inhibit osteogenic differentiation in a dose‐dependent manner. While engaged in preliminary exploration of the underlying mechanisms, we found that titanium particles significantly affect phosphorylation of ERK1/2, a key component of MAPK signaling. This suggests that the MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation by titanium particles.

Intelligent and Bioactive Osseointegration of the Implanted Piezoelectric Bone Cement with the Host Bone Is Realized by Biomechanical Energy

“…With the increasingly evident trend of an aging population, the incidence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is gradually rising, and the importance of total joint replacement (TJR) is becoming more and more critical for middle-aged and elderly patients with KOA. − In TJR surgery, poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a commonly used artificial joint fixation material, which has high compressive strength and elastic modulus, playing a crucial role in the orthopedic implantation process, such as supporting orthopedic implants and transmitting mechanical stress and loads between metal implants and host bone. − It is usually bonded to the host bone by mechanical anchoring. However, aseptic loosening of artificial joints is the most common middle- and late-stage (about 3–10 years) complication after joint replacement surgery, with possible mechanisms − including (i) PMMA lacks biological activity, and thus its failure to anchor to the host bone leads to prosthesis loosening; (ii) osteoporosis causes bone loss, leading to loosening of the PMMA and bone interface; and (iii) aseptic inflammation causes bone resorption, resulting in the failure of the PMMA anchoring function. Therefore, the research and development of bioactive PMMA are of great significance in bone and joint surgery.…”