The appearence of proinflammatory cytokines in temporomandibular joint disorders after arthrocentesis and lavage

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is that evaluate the distribution and biological roles of TNF-a, interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta), interleukin-6(IL-6) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) in the synovial fliud of patients with non-inflammatory chronic temporomandibular joint(TMJ) disorders in relation to pain during joint movements and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) findings. TMJ synovial fluids aspirates were obtained from 36 patients (36 joints) with chronic TMJ disorders and from 8 controls(8 joints). Patients were divided to four groups. The control group was from healthy volunteers(8 joints), group I(18 joints) was patients with anterior disc displacement with reduction, group II(5 joints) was patients with disc displacement without reduction and group III (5 joints) was osteoarthritis. The TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 levels in the aspirates were determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the TIMP-1 level was measured by an enzyme immunoassay. Following examinations for pain during joint movements and MRI observations, these cytokines'level and frequencies of detection were compared. The level of IL-1beta was not significant different in all groups. but the level of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and TIMP-1 were significant different among groups. The level of IL-6 and TIMP-1 were correlated to pain during movement(p <0.01) and the level of TNF-a(p <0.05). Also, the level of IL-6 was correlated to the level of TIMP-1(p <0.01). Especially, The level of the TIMP-1 level was significantly correlated to the pain during movement and showed very high levle of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r=0.833)(p <0.001). The results indicated that the TNF-alpha, IL-6 and TIMP-1 levels in the TMJ aspirates of patients with chronic TMJ disorders have been raised. Especially, IL-6 and TIMP-1 were very high levels in the patients who were degraded in the TMJ. Also, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and TIMP-1 showed the significant correlation in the chronic temporomandibular joint disorders. Therefore I suggest that these cytokines were also correlated to the pain during movement in the chronic temporomandibular joint disorders.