title: Injecting vascular endothelial growth factor into the temporomandibular joint induces osteoarthritis in mice.
abstract: It is unclear whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can initiate osteoarthritis (OA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In this study we evaluated the effects of intra-articular injection of exogenous VEGF in the TMJ in mice on the early stage. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley mice were equally divided into 3 groups. In the vegf group, the mice received an injection of VEGF solution (50 μL) in the TMJ once a week over a period of 4 weeks. In the sham group, the mice received an injection of saline (50 μL). The control group did not receive any injection. Four mice from each group were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Gradual prominent cartilage degeneration was observed in the vegf group. Additionally, this group showed higher expressions of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-13, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa-B ligand (RANKL), and a higher number of apoptotic chondrocytes and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-positive chondrocytes. Micro-computed tomography (CT) revealed prominent subchondral bone resorption in the vegf group, with a high number of osteoclasts in the subchondral bone. In vitro study demonstrated that VEGF can promote osteoclast differentiation. In conclusion, our study found that VEGF can initiate TMJ OA by destroying cartilage and subchondral bone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology &Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology &Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: ZiXian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology &Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji Si
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology &Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei Feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology &Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shang Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology &Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000378:metabolism; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000633:toxicity*; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053245:RANK Ligand; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C000592875:Kdr protein, mouse; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9