title: Tumor necrosis factor in synovial fluid of patients with temporomandibular disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity in synovial fluid from patients with temporomandibular disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity in synovial fluid from 27 patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) was studied using the MTT tetrazolium WEHI 164 clone 13 cell cytotoxicity assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No detectable TNF levels were found in five patients with a masticatory muscle disorder, but elevated TNF levels were found in 5 of 11 patients with TMJ disc displacement, and in 9 of 11 patients with degenerative joint disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of biologically active TNF in the synovial fluid of these patients suggests that it may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain temporomandibular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Beijing Medical University, China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001681:Biological Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha