Kathrin Chamaon

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from Drosophila : Two different types of α subunits coassemble within the same receptor complex

Abstract: Although neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from insects have been reconstituted in vitro more than a decade ago, our knowledge about the subunit composition of native receptors as well as their functional properties still remains limited. Immunohistochemical evidence has suggested that two α subunits, α‐like subunit (ALS) and Drosophilaα2 subunit (Dα2), are colocalized in the synaptic neuropil of the Drosophila CNS and therefore may be subunits of the same receptor complex. To gain further understanding of the composition of these nicotinic receptors, we have examined the possibility that a receptor may imbed more than one α subunit using immunoprecipitations and electrophysiological investigations. Immunoprecipitation experiments of fly head extracts revealed that ALS‐specific antibodies coprecipitate Dα2, and vice versa, and thereby suggest that these two α subunits must be contained within the same receptor complex, a result that is supported by investigations of reconstituted receptors in Xenopus oocytes. Discrimination between binary (ALS/β2 or Dα2/β2) and ternary (ALS/Dα2/β2) receptor complexes was made on the basis of their dose‐response curve to acetylcholine as well as their sensitivity to α‐bungarotoxin or dihydro‐β‐erythroidine. These data demonstrate that the presence of the two α subunits within a single receptor complex confers new receptor properties that cannot be predicted from knowledge of the binary receptor’s properties.

Large-diameter metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasties: a page in orthopedic history?

Large-diameter metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings evolved from the success of hip resurfacing. These implants were used in revision surgery in cases with well-fixed acetabular cups but loose or failed femoral stems, to avoid cup revision. Early data showed low rates of dislocation and potentially low wear profiles due to better fluid film lubrication. The risk of impingement was also thought to be low due to the increased head-neck ratio. Subsequently large-diameter MoM heads gained popularity in primary hip replacement. Recent data has emerged on the unacceptably high revision rates among patients with large-diameter MoM total hip arthroplasties (THAs), high blood levels of metal ions, and adverse tissue reactions. The head-neck (cone-taper) modular interface probably represents the weak link in large metal heads that have been used on conventional tapers. Increased torque of the large head, micromotion, and instability at the cone-taper interface, synergistic interactions between corrosion and wear, edge loading, low clearance, and psoas impingement are the likely causes for early failure of these prostheses.

Ionic cobalt but not metal particles induces ROS generation in immune cells in vitro: Ionic cobalt inducing ROS generation

Total joint replacement is one of the most successful procedures in orthopedic surgery today. However, metal implant materials undergo wear and corrosion processes. Generated particles and ions can cause a variety of cellular reactions. Cobalt-containing alloys are used frequently in implant materials. Some studies suggest that cobalt exhibits potential cytotoxic effects, for example, via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To further elucidate the effects of cobalt on human cells, we determined cell viability and cytosolic and mitochondrial superoxide formation after incubation of either ions or particles with different cells. MM-6 and Jurkat cell lines were treated for 24, 48 and 72 h with either CoCrMo particles or cobalt ions (supplied as CoCl2 ). A total of 24 h exposure of both forms of cobalt did not induce cell death using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TUNEL) and trypan blue assay. Interestingly, the formation of superoxide (O2 .- ) is evoked mainly by ionic CoCl2 but not cobalt particles. Cobalt alloy particles are likely to even suppress O2 .- formation in mitochondria in both used cell lines. Furthermore, we did not observe any effect of cobalt particles on O2 .- formation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors. We also found that the O2 - formation by CoCl2 within mitochondria is a generalized effect for all cell types used, while the formation of superoxide in cytosolic compartment is cell-type dependent. In summary, our data suggest that cobalt ions specifically induce the formation of O2 .- , whereas the cobalt particles were better tolerated.

Expression of CD11c in periprosthetic tissues from failed total hip arthroplasties

In this work, we characterize integrin CD11c (αXß2) expression in periprosthetic tissues of 45 hip revisions. Tissues were retrieved from 23 ceramic-on-ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), 20 metal-on-UHMWPE, and 2 metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasties (THAs). Capsular tissue retrieved during primary THA from 19 patients served as controls. We identified a system to identify important immunohistochemical markers that are expressed in aseptic loosening. We focused on CD11c, CD68 and CD14. We observed that the CD11c molecule possesses four different cellular patterns in the periprosthetic tissues. Three of them are associated with the occurrence of UHMWPE abrasive material. Double staining with CD14 and CD68 was used for a more detailed analysis of the CD11c expressing cells. We observed that all forms of CD11c positive cells are CD68 positive however, only two forms of CD11c expressing cells are positive for CD14. Providing cellular diversity of CD11c expression in periprosthetic tissue, our results provide a contribution toward the further understanding of different cellular mechanisms to foreign body material.