Effects of Cartilage Impact on Chondrocyte Viability and TLR-Ligands

The development of post-traumatic arthritis involves chondrocyte death and inflammation of cartilage and surrounding tissues. Two invitro loading apparatus were designed to investigate the effect of trauma mechanism on chondrocyte viability and the release of Toll-like receptor (TLR) activating ligands. This study shows that low strain blunt impact ≤70% strain causes mainly apoptotic chondrocyte death whereas high strain blunt impact ≥80% strain and cartilage fracture lead to necrosis. Cartilage debris released from injured osteochondral cores is able to induce inflammation via TLR activation.