Induction of apoptosis and necrosis by metal ions in vitro.

I have been reviewing the past articles re the immunology issues associated with the high ions in the blood. This journal article was published back in 2004.  So, its now 2011 and the research is still looking at the same issues in vitro.  the article I published yesterday is one example of that. Still talking about cell death observed when the ion exposure and ion concentration is prolonged.  Still talking about ion toxicity with these metals and still it appears that little progress has been made between this study published in 2004 and the one I published yesterday in 2011....7 years later.  What am I missing here?

Perhaps this Depuy suit will spur increased research in this area?

J Arthroplasty. 2004 Dec;19(8 Suppl 3):84-7.Huk OL, Catelas I, Mwale F, Antoniou J, Zukor DJ, Petit A.

Source

Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, The Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

There has been a renewed interest in the use of the metal-on-metal (MOM) implants for total hip arthroplasty (THA). It is well known, however, that the MOM articulation generates both metal particles and ions. The physiologic effects of these ions are poorly understood and their potential toxicity remains a cause for concern. In the present study, murine J774 macrophages were incubated with Co2+ and Cr3+ ions and the mode of cell death (apoptosis/necrosis) was evaluated in vitro by transmission electron microscopy and cell death ELISA. Overall, results demonstrated that the mode of cell death was dependent on the ion concentration and the incubation time. Indeed, at short incubation times (24 h), the noninflammatory process of apoptosis was predominant. At longer incubation times (48 h), however, necrosis was predominant at higher ion concentrations.