title: Expression of β-defensin 4 on temporomandibular joint discs with anterior displacement without reduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  β-defensin-4 is a member of antimicrobial peptides (APs) of the immunity system. This molecule has antimicrobial activity but it seems to be involved in articular inflammatory processes too, as it happens during osteoarthritic disease (OA). Considering the possible relation existing between (OA) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD), the aim of our study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the presence of β- defensin-4 in pathological temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs affected by internal derangement without reduction (ADDwoR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen TMJ-displaced disc specimens were considered in this study and were analysed by immunohistochemical evaluation. They were compared with a control sample of sixteen healthy discs and two scores, intensity of staining (IS) and extent score (ES) were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings of our analysis showed a significant difference between control and study sample (P < 0.001). IS and ES of control sample and pathological sample were 1 and 4 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirmed the presence of β-defensin-4 in human TMJ discs affected by ADDwoR, hypothesing a possible role of this molecule in articular bone disruption.
authors: Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry-University of Catania, Policlinico Universitario, Italy. Electronic address: sicureddi@hotmail.com.
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Sicurezza
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Loreto
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Musumeci
authors: Luis Eduardo
authors: LE
authors: Almeida
authors: Mugurel
authors: M
authors: Rusu
authors: Carmelo
authors: C
authors: Grasso
authors: Rosalia
authors: R
authors: Leonardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C106641:DEFB4A protein, human; D023083:beta-Defensins; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Beta-defensin; Disc anterior displacement; Temporomandibular joint