Background. Unicameral bone cysts (UBCs) are difficult to treat and have a high recurrence rate. Their pathogenesis is unknown making targeted therapies difficult. Attributed causes include venous and interstitial fluid obstruction, oxygen free radicals, lysosomal enzymes, prostaglandins and genetic factors. Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) are osteoblast precursors critical to bone formation and cyst fluid may influence their growth, however the association between SSCs and cyst fluid has never been investigated. Aim. To investigate the effect of UBC fluid on SSC growth. Methods. Fluid was aspirated from a UBC in the proximal femur of a nine year old boy and centrifuged to isolate the acellular supernatant. SSCs were harvested from bone marrow of a haematologically normal adult and cultured with graded concentrations of cyst fluid in culture media (0,10,25,50%). Cell growth was assessed by alkaline phosphatase staining, and cytokine levels in the fluid were measured. Results. High levels of cytokines known to be chemo-attractive for cells of the of macrophage-monocyte lineage were found, including Macrophage Chemotactic Protein-1 (1853pg/ml), Monokine Induced by γ-interferon (656pg/ml), Macrophage Inflammatory Protein (MIP)-1α (401pg/ml) and MIP-1β (34pg/ml) suggesting a role of osteoclasts in UBC pathogenesis. Furthermore, SSC growth in vitro was reduced in cyst fluid in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusion. This is the first time altered SSC and osteoprogenitor function has been associated with the fluid of a UBC. A negative effect on osteogenesis was demonstrated, the precise mechanisms of which are under investigation, and macrophage-monocyte
