Acidosis, osteoclast formation and cathepsin K expression in the loosening of total hip prostheses

and The National Graduate School for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering ACADEMIC DISSERTATION To be publicly discussed with the permission of the Medical Faculty of the University of Helsinki, in the large lecture hall (Iso luentosali) Work hard and try your best! If you then fail I am not angry.-my father-This thesis is based on the following original publications. They are referred to in the text by their Roman numerals I-V. Acid attack and cathepsin K in bone resorption around total hip replacement prosthesis. J Imbalance of RANKL/RANK/OPG system in interface tissue in loosening of total hip replacement. Interface tissue fibroblasts from loose total hip replacement prosthesis produce receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand, osteoprotegerin and cathepsin K. J Rheumatol in press. YT: Pseudosynovial fluid from loosened total hip prosthesis induces osteoclast formation. Konttinen YT: Increased expression of a novel osteoclast-stimulating factor, ADAM8, in interface tissue around loosened hip prostheses.