IADR Abstract Archives

Microarchitectural and Molecular Changes in a Murine TMJ-OA Model

Objective:Little is known about the natural progression of the disease process of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA), which affects approximately 1 % of the US population. The goal of this study was to examine the early microarchitectural and molecular changes in the condylar cartilage and subchondral bone in biglycan/fibromodulin (BGN/FMOD) double-deficient mice, which develop TMJ-OA at 6 months of age.

Methods:TMJs from 3 month old (n=44) and 9 month old (n=52) wild-type (WT n=46) and BGN/FMOD (n=50) double-deficient mice were evaluated. Micro-CT analysis of the subchondral bone (n=25) , transmission electron microscopy for condylar cartilage collagen fibril diameters (n=26), and real time PCR analysis for gene expression for bone and cartilage maturation markers (n=45) was performed.

Results:A statistically significant increase in collagen fibril diameter of the condylar cartilage and a decrease in expression of Parathyroid related protein in the mandibular condylar head were observed in the 3 month BGN/FMOD double-deficient mice compared to WT controls. The 9-month BGN/FMOD double-deficient mouse demonstrated an increase in bone volume and total volume in subchondral bone, and an increase in the expression of Collagen type X and Aggrecan in the mandibular condylar head compared to the WT controls.

Conclusion:We found that changes in the microarchitecture of the condylar cartilage preceded changes in the subchondral bone during OA in the TMJ in BGN/FMOD double-deficient mice. Further understanding in the molecular and structural changes, which occur during the natural progression of TMJ-OA is crucial in order to develop new treatment modalities and biomarkers to detect the early stages of disease process.

This work was supported in part by K-22 DE017193 and American Association of Orthodontists Foundation Faculty Development Award to Dr. Wadhwa


IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
2009 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (Miami, Florida)
Miami, Florida
2009
26
Craniofacial Biology
  • Yeh, Wei-chang  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Wadhwa, Sunil  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Chen, Jing  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Gupta, Tina  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Barasz, Jonah  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Kalajzic, Zana  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Drissi, Hicham  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Hand, Arthur R.  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
  • Young, Marian F.  ( National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA )
  • Nanda, Ravindra  ( University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA )
    • Oral Session
    TMJ, Orthodontic Tooth Movement
    04/01/2009