Immunohistochemical study of matrilin-1 in arthritic articular cartilage of the mandibular condyle.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of matrilin-1 in arthritic articular cartilage of the mandibular condyle by means of immunohistochemical methods.


METHODS
Condylar cartilage specimens were obtained from temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of 12 patients with arthritis (osteoarthritis and internal derangement) (mean age 51.8 years; age range 28-71 years) and four patients with TMJ ankylosis (mean age 44.0 years; age range 16-64 years), diagnosed clinically and with imaging examinations. Paraffin sections were immunostained with anti-matrilin-1 antibodies.


RESULTS
Matrilin-1 expression was detected in both patient groups with TMJ ankylosis and arthritis, and the level was remarkably higher in arthritic cartilage. The mean percentage of matrilin-1-producing cells to the total chondrocytes was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the arthritic group (43.9 +/- 19.2%) than in subjects with TMJ ankylosis (28.0 +/- 8.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Articular chondrocytes in the TMJ condyle can express matrilin-1 and the expression is enhanced in arthritic cartilage, suggesting a presence of functional or adaptive remodeling in the condyle in response to degenerative changes in the TMJ structures.
Ohno
Shigeru
S
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan. shigebon@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Murakami
Kenichiro
K
Tanimoto
Kotaro
K
Sugiyama
Hiroki
H
Makihira
Seicho
S
Shibata
Takanori
T
Yoneno
Kiyoshi
K
Kato
Yukio
Y
Tanne
Kazuo
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000473:pathology; D000906:Antibodies; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology*; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology*
D000906:Antibodies; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D004396:Coloring Agents; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C577539:MATN1 protein, human; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; C577553:TSP5 protein, human