Inflammatory cell and cytokine patterns in patients with chronic polyarthritis and temporomandibular joint involvement.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the occurrence of selected markers for inflammatory cells and cytokines in patients with chronic polyarthritis (CPA) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement.


METHODS
Eleven patients (11 joints) with CPA and TMJ disorder were included in the study. Synovial specimens were obtained during TMJ open surgery and these were subjected to immunohistochemistry on frozen sections post-fixed with paraformaldehyde and with the cell membranes permeabilized by saponin. In all patients, the cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1ra, TNFalpha, IFNgamma, IL2, and TGFbeta were investigated using specific antibodies. The occurrence of macrophages and T-lymphocytes was investigated using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against antigens CD68 and CD45RO, respectively. In addition, PCNA was used as a marker for cell proliferation.


RESULTS
Staining of IL-1alpha, IL-1, and TGF was seen in all 11 specimens, IFN? in 1, TNFalpha in 4, and IL-2 in none. CD45RO-positive T cells were detected in 7 specimens, CD68-positive macrophages in 6, and cell proliferation seen with PCNA was noted in 8.


CONCLUSIONS
The predominant cytokines of TMJ CPA were IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and TGFbeta, and there appeared to be no differences between the subgroups (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis) involved. Moreover, the cytokine pattern of TMJ CPA patients seemed to differ from patients with osteoarthritis, as shown in our previous study. The main difference was the absence of IFNgamma and TNFalpha in TMJ CPA patients and a stronger TGFbeta and IL-1alpha expression.
Kardel
Ramin
R
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Institution of Odontology, Huddinge, Sweden. ramin.kardel-tabar@sodersjukhuset.se
Ulfgren
Ann-Kristin
AK
Reinholt
Finn
F
Hamada
Yoshiki
Y
Holmlund
Anders
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines