Proinflammatory cytokines detectable in synovial fluids from patients with temporomandibular disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF) alpha, IL-8, and interferon- (IFN) gamma in synovial fluid samples taken from patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).


METHODS
We studied 6 asymptomatic volunteers and 51 patients with TMD. The IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-8, and IFN-gamma levels in temporomandibular joint synovial fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Measurable level of at least one cytokine in the synovial fluid was found in 40 (64.5%) of 62 joints in the patients: IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma were each detected in 18 (29.0%) of 62 joints; IL-6 in 13 (21.0%) of 62 joints; IL-8 in 11 (19.3%) of 57 joints; and TNF-alpha in only 5 (8.1%) of 62 joints. None of these cytokines was detectable in the synovial fluid in the control group. Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between the detection of IL-1 beta and pain in the joint area.


CONCLUSIONS
These data clearly demonstrate increased levels of several proinflammatory cytokines in certain patients with TMD and suggest that these cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of synovitis and degenerative changes of the cartilaginous tissue and bone of the temporomandibular joint.
Takahashi
T
T
Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kondoh
T
T
Fukuda
M
M
Yamazaki
Y
Y
Toyosaki
T
T
Suzuki
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma