Alteration of cartilage degeneration and inflammation markers in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis occurs proportionally.
OBJECTIVE
There is a growing interest in markers for cartilage degradation in synovial joints because of their potential diagnostic and prognostic value. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify valuable degradation markers for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) by comparing the relative concentrations of carboxyterminal telopeptides type I and II (CTX-I and II), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the synovial fluid (SF) of TMJs with OA with those of healthy symptom-free TMJs.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional case-control study, participants were recruited from the University Medical Center Groningen (Groningen, the Netherlands). Cases were defined as patients with TMJ OA, and control patients had symptom-free TMJs. The outcome variables were the relative concentrations of CTX-I, CTX-II, COMP, and PGE2 in osteoarthritic TMJ SF compared with symptom-free joints. An independent-samples Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the relative concentrations.


RESULTS
Thirty cases (9 male, 21 female; mean age, 40.1 yr; standard deviation, 15.3 yr) and 10 controls (5 male, 5 female; mean age, 30.3 yr; standard deviation, 10.8 yr) were studied. No significant differences in relative concentrations of CTX-I (P = .548), CTX-II (P = .842), COMP (P = .140), and PGE2 (P = .450) were found between the groups. Unexpected low relative concentrations of CTX-I and high relative concentrations of CTX-II were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Assumed changes in the SF concentration of CTX-I, CTX-II, COMP, and PGE2 in TMJ OA seem to occur proportionally. Furthermore, the unexpected large contribution of CTX-II suggests that this marker may be useful to quantify cartilage degradation in TMJ OA.
Research Assistant, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.m.vos@umcg.nl.
Lukas M
LM
Vos
Roel
R
Kuijer
James J R
JJ
Huddleston Slater
Boudewijn
B
Stegenga
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000032:analysis*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019152:Paracentesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000378:metabolism; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D015232:Dinoprostone; D010455:Peptides; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; C577553:TSP5 protein, human