Peripheral and central substance P expression in rat CFA-induced TMJ synovitis pain

CircRNA expression profiling of the rat thalamus in temporomandibular joint chronic inflammatory pain

Orofacial pain (OFP) induced by temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) is prevalent, affecting approximately 4.6 % of the population. One specific type of TMD is temporomandibular osteoarthritis (TMJOA), a common degenerative disease that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Differentially expressed circular RNAs (DEcircRNAs) in the thalamus, which serves as a relay station in the orofacial pain transmission pathway, may play a crucial role and serve as potential target markers for inflammation and the progression of inflammatory pain in TMJOA. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of circRNAs in the thalamus of TMJOA. We obtained the circRNA expression profile from the thalamus of a rat model of TMJOA through high-throughput sequencing (HT-seq) and further validated their expression using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), followed by bioinformatics analysis of the expression data. A total of 425 circRNAs (DESeq2 p- value < 0.05, |log2FoldChange| > 0.0) were identified as significantly differentially expressed by RNA-Seq, comprising 188 up-regulated and 237 down-regulated circRNAs. After validation via RT-qPCR, we employed miRanda software to predict the binding sites of miRNAs for the identified circRNAs to further explore the functions of DEcircRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that DEcircRNAs were primarily enriched in pathways and functions related to synapse development, protein signaling and modification, 'Circadian entertainment', the 'MAPK signaling pathway', and 'Glutamatergic synapse'. These findings suggest that DEcircRNAs in the thalamus play a significant role in the progression of TMJOA and may serve as promising candidate molecular targets for gene therapy.

Sodium Leak Channel in Glutamatergic Neurons of the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus Helps to Maintain Respiratory Frequency Under Sevoflurane Anesthesia

The lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL) is implicated in the regulation of respiratory activity. Sodium leak channel (NALCN) mutations disrupt the respiratory rhythm and influence anesthetic sensitivity in both rodents and humans. Here, we investigated whether the NALCN in PBL glutamatergic neurons maintains respiratory function under general anesthesia. Our results showed that chemogenetic activation of PBL glutamatergic neurons increased the respiratory frequency (RF) in mice; whereas chemogenetic inhibition suppressed RF. NALCN knockdown in PBL glutamatergic neurons but not GABAergic neurons significantly reduced RF under physiological conditions and caused more respiratory suppression under sevoflurane anesthesia. NALCN knockdown in PBL glutamatergic neurons did not further exacerbate the respiratory suppression induced by propofol or morphine. Under sevoflurane anesthesia, painful stimuli rapidly increased the RF, which was not affected by NALCN knockdown in PBL glutamatergic neurons. This study suggested that the NALCN is a key ion channel in PBL glutamatergic neurons that maintains respiratory frequency under volatile anesthetic sevoflurane but not intravenous anesthetic propofol.

A Novel Diabetic Arthritic Model in Rats Induced by Streptozotocin, High-Fat Diet, and Complete Freund's Adjuvant

Introduction

Ankle arthrodesis is one of the treatments of choice, particularly in late-stage and unstable diabetic Charcot arthropathy. Unfortunately, poor healing capacity might play a role in the high nonunion rate (10-40%). The advancement in regenerative medicine opens a new horizon for enhancing fusion after ankle arthrodesis in patients with poor healing capacity. However, a suitable small animal model is warranted to study the effectivity of these regenerative medicine approaches. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes models and adjuvant-induced arthritis models with complete Freund's adjuvant are two established models. However, no study has combined those two models to make a diabetic arthritic model that more closely resembles the condition in Charcot arthropathy.

Methods

Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into five groups, consisting of one control group, and four diabetic groups which were induced by STZ injection and a high-fat diet. Among these diabetic rats, two groups received complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injections to the left ankle of the hind limb. The control group, one of the diabetic-only groups, and one of the arthritic-diabetic-induced groups were euthanized at 4 weeks after STZ induction, and the remainder were euthanized 6 weeks after STZ induction. Clinical, radiological, and histological examinations were then compared in all five groups.

Results

Diabetic status was successfully achieved in the model, which was maintained until the completion of the study. The CFA-induced ankles were significantly larger than the contralateral ankles in all groups (p<0.05). Histopathological evaluation confirmed arthritic changes in the CFA-induced group with less variability after 4 weeks of arthritis induction.

Conclusion

This rat model of arthritic diabetic mimics the progressive and chronic nature of Charcot arthropathy in humans. This model can be further use to study treatments that might enhance the fusion rate in ankle arthrodesis in healing-defective patients such as those with diabetes.

Level of Clinical Evidence

5.

Macrophage Activation in Synovitis and Osteoarthritis of Temporomandibular Joint and Its Relationship with the Progression of Synovitis and Bone Remodeling

This study investigates the regulatory mechanisms of synovial macrophages and their polarization in the progression of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Macrophage depletion models were established by intra-articular injection of clodronate liposomes and unloaded liposomes. TMJOA was induced by intra-articular injection of 50 μL Complete Freund's Adjuvant and the surgery of disc perforation. The contralateral joint was used as the control group. The expression of F4/80, CD86, and CD206 in the synovium was detected by immunofluorescence staining analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and TMJOA synovial score were detected to show the synovial changes in rat joints after TMJOA induction and macrophage depletion. Changes in rat cartilage after TMJOA induction and macrophage depletion were shown by safranin fast green staining. The bone-related parameters of rats' joints were evaluated by micro-computed tomography analysis. The TMJOA model induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant injection and disc perforation aggravated synovial hyperplasia and showed a significant up-regulation of expression of F4/80-, CD86-, and CD206-positive cells. F4/80, CD86, and CD206 staining levels were significantly decreased in macrophage depletion rats, whereas the synovitis score further increased and cartilage and subchondral bone destruction was slightly aggravated. Macrophages were crucially involved in the progression of TMJOA, and macrophage depletion in TMJOA synoviocytes promoted synovitis and cartilage destruction.

Sodium Leak Channel in Glutamatergic Neurons of the Lateral Parabrachial Nucleus Modulates Inflammatory Pain in Mice

Elevated excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL) is associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory pain, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Sodium leak channel (NALCN) is widely expressed in the central nervous system and regulates neuronal excitability. In this study, chemogenetic manipulation was used to explore the association between the activity of PBL glutamatergic neurons and pain thresholds. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was used to construct an inflammatory pain model in mice. Pain behaviour was tested using von Frey filaments and Hargreaves tests. Local field potential (LFP) was used to record the activity of PBL glutamatergic neurons. Gene knockdown techniques were used to investigate the role of NALCN in inflammatory pain. We further explored the downstream projections of PBL using cis-trans-synaptic tracer virus. The results showed that chemogenetic inhibition of PBL glutamatergic neurons increased pain thresholds in mice, whereas chemogenetic activation produced the opposite results. CFA plantar modelling increased the number of C-Fos protein and NALCN expression in PBL glutamatergic neurons. Knockdown of NALCN in PBL glutamatergic neurons alleviated CFA-induced pain. CFA injection induced C-Fos protein expression in central nucleus amygdala (CeA) neurons, which was suppressed by NALCN knockdown in PBL glutamatergic neurons. Therefore, elevated expression of NALCN in PBL glutamatergic neurons contributes to the development of inflammatory pain via PBL-CeA projections.

Correlation of arthroscopic findings with clinical-radiological signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction: retrospective study of 829 joints

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopic findings are difficult to predict based on clinical criteria. Few studies have attempted to correlate signs, symptoms, and characteristics of patients with the final arthroscopic findings. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between clinical-radiological signs and symptoms and arthroscopic findings in patients with TMJ dysfunction undergoing arthroscopy. A retrospective study was performed involving 487 patients (829 joints) with TMJ dysfunction who underwent TMJ arthroscopy between 2000 and 2019. The clinical-radiological variables recorded were pain, maximum mouth opening, joint noises, Wilkes classification, and disc displacement. The arthroscopic findings evaluated were synovitis, chondromalacia, adhesions, disc perforation, disc displacement, and roofing. Pain symptoms were significantly associated with the intensity of synovitis (P = 0.005) and disc displacement evaluated arthroscopically (P < 0.001). A statistically significant relationship was observed between Wilkes stage and the level of synovitis (P < 0.001) and chondromalacia (P < 0.001). Mouth opening was negatively correlated with adhesions (P < 0.001). Based on this study, pain symptomatology was associated with the intensity of synovitis and disc displacement evaluated arthroscopically, the Wilkes stage was a good predictor of the severity of synovitis and chondromalacia, and mouth opening was negatively correlated with adhesions.

Melatonin Abates TMJOA Chronic Pain by MT2R in Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is one of the most common diseases causing chronic pain in the oral and maxillofacial region. So far, there are few ways to relieve the pain of TMJOA. Melatonin (MT) has a good analgesic effect in many diseases, including fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, chronic headache, and burn pain, with very low acute toxicity and side effects. This study was to investigate the role and mechanism of MT in TMJOA chronic pain. In rats TMJOA chronic pain occurred at day 14 after an intra-temporomandibular joint injection of monosodium iodoacetate, which we previously reported. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that MT levels were higher in the synovial fluid from patients and rats with TMJOA as compared with those from control. Fluorescent retrograde tracing (Dil) identified that upregulation of MT type 2 receptor (MT₂R) in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons innervating rat temporomandibular joints was accompanied by TMJOA chronic pain. Nociceptive behavior as assessed by von Frey and the Rat Grimace Scale demonstrated that exogenous administration of MT relieved chronic pain in TMJOA rats, whereas blocking MT₂R with 4P-PDOT reversed the analgesic effect of MT. Immunofluorescence analysis also confirmed that MT inhibited CGRP and IB4 expression of TG neurons, and this inhibition was reversed by administering the MT₂R antagonist in TMJOA rats. By using Fluo-3 AM-based calcium imaging in vitro, MT elicited calcium transients in Dil⁺ TG neurons, which were significantly abolished by 4P-PDOT. Collectively, this study suggested that MT relieves the TMJOA chronic pain of rats through downregulation of sensitized CGRP⁺ and IB4⁺ neurons in TG via MT₂R. This will be helpful for health care professionals utilizing MT as an option against TMJOA chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Causes Peripheral and Central Responses in MIA-Induced TMJOA Rats

Chronic pain is the predominant symptom that drives temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) patients to seek medical care; however, currently used treatment modalities remain less effective. This study aimed to investigate chronic pain and the peripheral and central responses in monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced TMJOA rats. First, the appropriate dose of MIA was determined based on pain behavior assessment in rats. Alterations of the condylar structure in TMJOA rats were evaluated by histological staining and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Second, the period of TMJOA chronic pain was further explored by assessing the numbers of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes and ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1)-positive microglia in the trigeminal spinal nucleus (TSN) and performing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) efficacy experiments. Finally, the expression of neurofilament 200 (NF200), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and isolectin B4 (IB4) in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and TSN was assessed by immunofluorescence. MIA at 4 mg/kg was considered an appropriate dose. Gradual MIA-induced alterations of the condylar structure were correlated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. The numbers of GFAP- and IBA-1-positive cells were increased at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after MIA injection. NSAIDs failed to alleviate pain behavior 10 days after MIA injection. CGRP and IB4 levels in the TG and TSN were upregulated at 2 and 4 weeks. These results suggest that TMJOA-related chronic pain emerged 2 weeks after MIA injection. CGRP- and IB4-positive afferents in both the peripheral and central nervous systems may be involved in MIA-induced TMJOA-related chronic pain in rats.

CircGCN1L1 promotes synoviocyte proliferation and chondrocyte apoptosis by targeting miR-330-3p and TNF-α in TMJ osteoarthritis

Altered expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been identified in various human diseases. In this study, we investigated whether circRNAs function as competing endogenous RNAs to regulate the pathological process of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). High-throughput sequencing of mRNA (RNA seq) was performed to detect the expression of circRNAs in TMJOA and control synovial tissues isolated from humans. The differentially upregulated circGCN1L1 (hsa_circ_0000448) in synoviocyte was validated in vitro and in vivo. Here we demonstrate the interactions between circGCN1L1 and both miR-330-3p and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) through bioinformatics predictions, luciferase report assays, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. mRNA expression profiles of TNF-α-stimulated synoviocyte showed that circGCN1L1 and p65 expressions were upregulated by TNF-α. Moreover, miR-330-3p was negatively correlated with TNF-α secretion. Further, we found that miR-330-3p directly targeted TNF and restrained the production of matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS4). Mechanistic studies unveiled that circGCN1L1 in TMJOA synovial tissues and cells may be associated with condylar chondrocyte apoptosis and synoviocyte hyperplasia. Moreover, intra-articular injection of shcircGCN1L1 alleviated TMJOA progression in rat models. Altogether, we elucidated the important roles of a novel circRNA, namely, circGCN1L1, which induced inflammation in TMJ synoviocytes and decreased anabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) through miR-330-3p and TNF-α gene. This circRNA may represent a potentially effective therapeutic strategy against TMJOA progression at an early stage.