BACKGROUND: The identity of the vital active ingredient within synovial fluid (SF)--to which we owe the near frictionless performance of diarthrodial joints--has been the quest of researchers for many years. Initially, hyaluronic acid (HA) was thought to be the lubricant, but it has been shown not to possess the load-bearing ability required within the physiological joint. The glycoprotein fraction of synovial fluid (lubricin) has been shown to have the same lubricating ability as synovial fluid. All or part of this is thought to be due to the surface-active phospholipids (SAPLs) present in lubricin. We characterized the SAPLs adsorbed on the surface of retrieved prostheses which have been implicated as the boundary lubricant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rinsing fluids collected from the bearing surfaces of 40 prostheses removed from hip and knee revision operations were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: SAPLs were detected on all retrieved implants. During the study, 8 different species of phosphatidylcholines were identified. We also determined the relative concentration of each species, which suggested that the unsaturated SAPL species predominate. INTERPRETATION: It is of value to know the identity of the lubricating constituents of SF, not only for the future development of artificial joints, but also in developing cures for several disease processes in which lubrication plays a role.
BACKGROUND: The identity of the vital active ingredient within synovial fluid (SF)--to which we owe the near frictionless performance of diarthrodial joints--has been the quest of researchers for many years. Initially, hyaluronic acid (HA) was thought to be the lubricant, but it has been shown not to possess the load-bearing ability required within the physiological joint. The glycoprotein fraction of synovial fluid (lubricin) has been shown to have the same lubricating ability as synovial fluid. All or part of this is thought to be due to the surface-active phospholipids (SAPLs) present in lubricin. We characterized the SAPLs adsorbed on the surface of retrieved prostheses which have been implicated as the boundary lubricant. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rinsing fluids collected from the bearing surfaces of 40 prostheses removed from hip and knee revision operations were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: SAPLs were detected on all retrieved implants. During the study, 8 different species of phosphatidylcholines were identified. We also determined the relative concentration of each species, which suggested that the unsaturated SAPL species predominate. INTERPRETATION: It is of value to know the identity of the lubricating constituents of SF, not only for the future development of artificial joints, but also in developing cures for several disease processes in which lubrication plays a role.
Authors: Sarah G A Decker; Mohammad Moeini; Hooi Chuan Chin; Derek H Rosenzweig; Thomas M Quinn Journal: Biophys J Date: 2013-11-19 Impact factor: 4.033
Authors: Nadine Hartjen; Lars Bräuer; Beate Reiß; Horst Claassen; Stephanie Beileke; Fabian Garreis; Sebastian Hoogeboom; Michael Tsokos; Saskia Etzold; Brigitte Müller-Hilke; Kolja Gelse; Thomas Müller; Mary B Goldring; Friedrich Paulsen; Martin Schicht Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-09-20 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jasmine Seror; Yulia Merkher; Nir Kampf; Lisa Collinson; Anthony J Day; Alice Maroudas; Jacob Klein Journal: Biomacromolecules Date: 2012-11-01 Impact factor: 6.988