Alloreactivity and Immunosuppressive Properties of Articular Chondrocytes from Osteoarthritic Cartilage. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abe, Satomi; Nochi, Hitoshi; Ito, Hiroshi
• Is Part Of: Journal of orthopaedic surgery. Volume 24:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: chondrocytes -- immune system -- osteoarthritis; Orthopedic surgery -- Periodicals; Orthopedics; Orthopedic surgery; Periodicals; 617.3
• DOI: 10.1177/1602400222
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-5536

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether articular chondrocytes derived from osteoarthritic knee joints could evoke alloreactive proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and inhibit mitogenic activity of polyclonally activated CD4 + major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II–restricted T cells in vitro . Methods: Osteoarthritic cartilages of 17 patients aged 61 to 85 years were harvested during total knee arthroplasty. Chondrocytes were cultured for experiments. PBMCs, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and CD14 + monocytes from healthy subjects were also used. To investigate the allogeneic response and immunosuppressive properties of chondrocytes, assays for one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), apoptosis, activated CD4 + T-cell proliferation, and cytotoxic CD8 + T-cells were performed. Chondrocyte cell-surface antigens were examined using flow cytometry. Results: Chondrocytes failed to trigger an allogeneic PBMC reaction and did not induce apoptosis of allogeneic PBMCs in the MLR assay. Chondrocytes inhibited the proliferation of polyclonally activated CD4 + T cells via cell-cell contact and escaped the allogeneic cytotoxic reactivity of CD8 + T cells. Chondrocytes expressed MHC class I but not MHC class II molecules or B7-1/-2-positive co-stimulatory molecules. Conclusion: Chondrocytes from osteoarthritic knees in older patients exhibited similar immunomodulatory properties in vitro to those in juveniles or adults.