Study of inflammasome and molecular process of inflammation in temporomandibular joint

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K11704
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Surgical dentistry
• Research Institution: Nihon University
• Principal Investigator: KONDOH Toshirou 日本大学, 松戸歯学部, 教授 (70178416)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小倉 直美 日本大学, 松戸歯学部, 講師 (10152448) ; 伊藤 耕 日本大学, 松戸歯学部, 講師 (20419758)
• Research Collaborator: WATANABE suguru ; YANO teruo ; SUZUKI mayu
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 顎関節 / 顎関節滑膜炎 / 網羅的遺伝子発現解析 / シグナリング・パスウェイ解析 / 顎関節滑膜細胞 / モノサイト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Synovitis frequently accompanies internal derangement and/or osteoarthritis in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that is rarely infected. Recently, metabolite of extracellular matrix has been shown one of pathogenesis for chronic inflammation in life-related diseases and cancer. Fibronectin fragments (FN-Fs) are metabolite in which fibronectin is degraded by enzyme. We investigated the role of fibronectin fragments in inflammation pathogens of temporomandibular joint disorders. FN-Fs induced the gene expression of inflammatory molecules such as chemokines via activation of NF-kB in synovial fibroblasts from human TMJ. Chemokines produced from fibroblasts may induce monocytes migration into synovium. The co-culture of synovial fibroblasts and monocytes enhance the production of inflammatory cytokines in compared to each monoculture in this study. These results suggest that the extracellular matrix fragments are associated with the inflammatory progression of TMDs.

Free Research Field

口腔外科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

顎関節は，咀嚼，開閉口など顎運動の支点となる関節であり，顎関節の運動障害や機能障害は，食事や会話に支障を来し，日常生活のクオリティーを著しく低下させる。顎関節症の治療は、従来からの痛みの軽減や開口障害の回復を目的とした対症療法が行われているのが現状である。顎関節炎症の発症プロセスを分子生物学的に明らかにすることによって，顎関節症の診断および新規治療薬の開発につながることが期待できる。