Surface oxidation of UHMWPE for orthopedic use increases apoptosis and necrosis in human granulocytes

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) used in orthopedic prosthesis is often sterilized with γ-rays and the subsequent oxidation was suggested to favor the in vivo wear. UHMWPE debries produced by wearing trigger an inflammatory response that can led to the implant failure. To explore direct effects of UHMWPE oxidation on immunocompetent cells and their possible role in the prosthesis failure, peripheral blood cells (PBCs) have been grown for 24 and 48h onto plastic (Ct), UHMWPE (PE) and heat oxidized UHMWPE (PEOx) discs. PBCs necrosis and apoptosis were assessed in flow cytometry using propidium iodide staining. After 24 h, no statistically significant differences were observed in the amount of apoptotic and necrotic cells between Ct, PE and PEOx samples while, after 48 h, both necrotic and apoptotic cells were strongly increased in PEOx samples where also the granulocytes population appeared strongly reduced (6.3 ± 1.1%) compared to PE (10.5 ± 1.5%) and Ct (15.1 ± 0.9%) samples. We conclude that surface oxidation may interfere with prosthetic failure and/or integration via granulocytes modulation.