Effects of synovial fluid from aseptic prosthesis loosening on collagen production in osteoblasts.

Synovial fluid from a loose prosthesis may act as a vehicle for factors that regulate bone turnover. The effect of such synovial fluid on osteoblasts has been studied. Synovial fluid obtained from patients who underwent revision hip arthroplasty because of aseptic prosthesis loosening was studied regarding the effect on protein synthesis, procollagen I mRNA expression, the secretion of procollagen I carboxyterminal propeptide (PICP) and osteocalcin in MG63 osteoblasts. Protein synthesis was increased and procollagen I mRNA expression was decreased by synovial fluid from patients with prosthesis loosening. Synovial fluid stimulated the total PICP in cell medium, but there was no change after correction for cell protein content in the cells. Synovial fluid in patients with prosthesis loosening has a general stimulatory effect on collagen formation and osteoblast proliferation because of a stimulatory effect on cell growth. Aseptic prosthesis loosening may be associated with an increase in bone formation.