Effects of regenerative radioelectric asymmetric conveyer treatment on human normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β. A biochemical and morphological study

Figures & data

Figure 1 Effects of incubation of human normal and OA chondrocytes, at basal conditions; with REAC TO-RGN treatment alone; with IL-1β (5 ng/mL) alone; or coincubation with IL-1β and REAC TO-RGN treatment for 48 h in the culture medium. (A) The quantity of PG (ng/10⁶); (B) the MMP-3 level (ng/10⁶ cells); and (C) the NO production (ng/10⁶ cells).

Note: Data are expressed as mean values ± SD.
Abbreviations: OA, osteoarthritis; REAC, radioelectric asymmetric conveyer technology; TO-RGN, Regenerative Tissue Optimization; IL, interleukin; PG, proteoglycan; MMP, metalloproteinase; NO, nitric oxide.

Table 1 Number (n) of mitochondria, Golgi bodies and presence of vacuolization (percentage, %) in normal and OA chondrocytes, under basal conditions and after treatment with the REAC TO-RGN, in absence or presence of IL-1b (5 ng/mL)

	Group	Basal conditions	REAC TO-RGN	IL-1β	REAC TO-RGN + IL-1β
Mitochondria (n)	Normal	7.01 (0.43)	7.99 (0.79)	5.47 (0.51)	6.67 (0.38)
	OA	3.27 (0.37)	5.43 (0.40)*,†	1.65 (0.25)	4.17 (0.34)**,‡
Golgi bodies (n)	Normal	3.52 (0.44)	3.80 (0.62)	2.77 (0.54)	3.23 (0.60)
	OA	1.53 (0.37)	3.17 (0.57)*,‡	0.77 (0.33)	2.43 (0.33)**,‡
Vacuolization (>5) (%)	Normal	5.00 (1.14)	3.17 (0.98)	9.00 (0.90)*	7.00 (0.63)
	OA	12.00 (1.10)	7.00 (0.90)‡	29.67 (1.37)*	14.5 (1.22)‡

Notes: The figures in brackets are the standard deviation values. For each group:

* P < 0.05, comparison vs basal conditions;

** P < 0.05, comparison between REAC TO-RGN vs REAC TO-RGN + IL-1β. Considering the differences between normal and OA:

† P < 0.05;

‡ P < 0.01.

Abbreviations: OA, Osteoarthritis; REAC, radio electric asymmetric conveyer technology; TO-RGN, Regenerative Tissue Optimization; IL, interleukin.

Figure 2 TEM micrographs of human OA chondrocytes. (A) Basal conditions: The cell shows an euchromatic nucleus (N), a reduction in cytoplasmic components, such as rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and mitochondria (M). The plasma membrane presents cytoplasmic processes. (B) Incubation with REAC TO-RNG: The nucleus (N) is euchromatic; the cytoplasm shows a significant increase of the presence of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria (M). (C) Incubation with IL-1b: The cytoplasm shows a diffuse vacuolization (V) and it contains a reduced quantity of typical organelles, such as Golgi bodies, rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria (M). (D) Incubation with REAC TO-RNG + IL-1β: The cell partially restores its morphology. The nucleus (N) is euchromatic, the cytoplasm shows a restored organization: a much reduced number of vacuoles (V) is present, rough endoplasmic reticulum is abundant and mitochondria (M) are well shaped. The plasma membrane presents many cytoplasmic processes. Bar = 1μm.

Abbreviations: TEM, transmission electron microscopy; OA, osteoarthritis; REAC, radioelectric asymmetric conveyer technology; TO-RGN, Regenerative Tissue Optimization; IL, interleukin; RER, rough endoplasmic reticulum; M, mitochondria; N, nucleus; V, vacuoles.