Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is closely associated with inflammatory changes and modulates apoptosis in condylar cartilage of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis. The aims are to investigate the effect of intra-articular injection of anti-TNF-alpha antibody on antigen-induced arthritis model of the rabbit temporomandibular joint histopathologically. Bilateral TMJ arthritis were induced in 9 adult New Zealand White rabbits. Ten Mol/kg anti-TNF-alpha antibody in 0.2ml saline was injected in the unilateral TMJ at day 0 after induction of arthritis, and in contralateral sham side the same volume of normal saline was injected. On each 3 animals, experimental and sham side of TMJ sections were sampled on 3, 7 and 21 days after injection. Each sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E), toluidine blue and TUNEL for histopathological analysis. The TMJ arthritic process was assessed using semi-quantitative histopathological grading scores. Statistical significance in comparison between experimental and sham side of TMJ arthiritis was evaluated with Mann-Whitney U-test. In comparison to sham side, significantly reduced joint inflammation and cartilage destruction in the experimental side was observed at day 7 and 21 by H-E and toluidine blue staining, and TUNEL positive chondrocytes decreased from day 3 to 21 after induction. This study suggested that intrarticular injection of the anti-TNF-alpha antibody might protect joint inflammation and cartilage destruction in antigen-induced arthritis model of the rabbit TMJ.
Published Version
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