title: Improving culture conditions for temporomandibular joint disc tissue engineering.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is extremely important for activities like eating and talking, which can become painful and difficult for patients with TMJ dysfunction. Tissue engineering is a potential alternative to current surgical interventions through replacement of diseased or injured tissue with a functional construct. Since research with TMJ disc cells began relatively recently, optimal culturing conditions must be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metabolic additives, L-glutamine, L-alanyl-L-glutamine, sodium pyruvate, and insulin, were examined for their effects on TMJ disc cells in monolayer. Effects of L-proline were examined in three-dimensional (3-D) culture at concentrations of 0, 25 and 100 mg/l.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination of L-glutamine, sodium pyruvate, and insulin improved cell proliferation rates without affecting collagen production or gene expression. No differences were observed in mechanical properties of the engineered constructs; however, collagen and glycosaminoglycan quantities normalized to cell number decreased at the highest concentration of L-proline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work identified supplements for 2-D monolayer expansion. Other supplements or culture conditions still need to be investigated for 3-D tissue production. This work improves upon porcine TMJ disc cell culturing conditions, taking us closer to being able to engineer the TMJ disc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D002417:Cattle; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011392:Proline / Q000494:pharmacology; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012015:Reference Standards; D013552:Swine; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D003470:Culture Media; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006133:Growth Substances; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D005973:Glutamine; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D004247:DNA; D011392:Proline