Establishment of cartilage regeneration therapy for temporomandibular joint using cold laser technology to control matrix metabolic activity

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21041
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: sakata shuzo 広島大学, 病院(歯), 歯科診療医 (60911526)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: レーザー / 変形性顎関節症 / 軟骨細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently developed high-frequency near-infrared diode laser (cold laser) are expected to be applied to TMJ osteoarthritis because of its low tissue invasion and high energy penetration. We have created an experimental cellular model of TMJ osteoarthritis using chondrocytes isolated from humans. We also demonstrated that cold laser irradiation to chondrocytes suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, and revealed the involvement of NF-κB signaling as an intracellular signaling pathway.

Free Research Field

歯科矯正学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

変形性顎関節症に対する現在の治療は主に対症療法であり、疾患の病態を制御しうる新たな治療法の確立が望まれている。本研究は、近年開発された高周波近赤外半導体レーザー（コールドレーザー）の、軟骨細胞に対する影響を明らかにした。この成果は、将来的なコールドレーザーの臨床応用に対し大きく貢献するものであると考える。