Expression of osteoprotegerin in synovial tissue and degradation of articular cartilage: comparison with arthroscopic findings of temporomandibular joint disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations among the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in synovial tissue and the degree of synovitis, the degeneration of articular cartilage, and the adhesions in patients with internal derangement and osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Study design The expression of OPG, which was detected immunohistochemically, and the degree of arthroscopy of 31 patients with internal derangement and osteoarthritis of the TMJ were assessed and the correlations between them were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
OPG was expressed in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells, synovial lining cells, and fibroblast cells. TMJs with osteoarthritis had a higher degree of articular cartilage degeneration than did TMJs with internal derangement. There was a correlation between the expression of OPG in the endothelial cells and the degree of the articular cartilage degeneration (P <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of OPG might be associated with the development of degenerative changes of articular cartilage.
Kaneyama
Keiseki
K
Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan. k-k@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
Segami
Natsuki
N
Sato
Jun
J
Nishimura
Masaaki
M
Yoshimura
Hiroshi
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology
D006023:Glycoproteins; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human