title: Synovial membrane in the temporomandibular joint--its morphology, function and development.
abstract: This paper reviews recent findings of the synovial membrane, in particular the morphology, function and development of synovial lining cells, in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Electron microscopic studies have confirmed the synovial membrane in TMJ consists of macrophage-like type A cells and fibroblast-like type B cells identical to those in other systematic joints. The macrophage-like type A cells react with anti-macrophage and macrophage-derived substances including the major histocompatibility class II molecule, and show a drastic increase in their number in the inflamed synovial membrane. In addition, they have the ability to produce substances involved in the progression of TMJ inflammation such as nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Observation of osteopetrotic mice revealed that macrophage-like type A cells in TMJ are derived from monocyte lineage. Immunocytochemistry for 25kDa heat shock protein was able to depict the entire shape of fibroblast-like type B cells including their unique processes. The expression of an estrogen receptor alpha-immunoreaction in the fibroblast-like type B cells may explain the etiology of temporomandibular disorders at a higher frequency in females than in males, suggesting that TMJ is a target tissue for estrogen. Furthermore, fibroblast-like type B cells are equipped with a basement membrane to serve as an adhesion molecule for the fibroblast-like type B cells to keep their epithelial arrangement. A clear understanding of the morphology of the intact synovial membrane will serve to clarify the etiology and development of temporomandibular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Anatomy, Department of Oral Biological Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan. nozawa@dent.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nozawa-Inoue
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amizuka
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Takeyasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010022:Osteopetrosis; D051381:Rats; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat