Angiogenesis has an important role in the progression of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). The aim of the present study was to explore the association between dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1) and angiogenesis in TMD. The expression levels of DKK-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were quantified by an ELISA assay of the synovial fluid from patients with TMD. The correlation between DKK-1 and VEGF was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from patients with TMD and were subsequently treated with recombinant human DKK-1, anti-DKK-1 antibody, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), or small interfering RNA (siRNA). The expression levels of DKK-1, HIF-1α, and VEGF were subsequently quantified. The present study also investigated the effects of DKK-1 on the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Increased expression levels of DKK-1 were concordant with increased expression levels of VEGF in the synovial fluid from patients with TMD. In the synovial fibroblasts, DKK-1 increased the expression levels of VEGF, and promoted HIF-1α nuclear localization. In addition, DKK-1 induced HUVEC migration, and HIF-1α siRNA inhibited DKK-1-induced cell migration. The results of the present study indicate that DKK-1 is associated with angiogenesis in the synovial fluid of patients with TMD. Furthermore, HIF-1α may be associated with DKK-1-induced HUVEC activation.

A novel supramolecular polymer metallogel (QP5‐AlG) has been constructed by cross‐linking of bis‐8‐hydroxyquinoline functionalized pillar[5]arene with Al3+. The metallogel QP5‐AlG shows light blue aggregation induced emission (AIE) in DMSO/H2O binary solution. Interestingly, the QP5‐AlG shown multiple external stimuli‐responsive behaviors such as temperature, guest compounds, acid, base and so on. The QP5‐AlG can be used as a fluorescent material for detection of Fe3+, F‐, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and triethylamine (TEA) by different fluorescence states (“on” or “off”). The (limits of lowest detection) LOQs of the QP5‐AlG for Fe3+, F‐, TFA and TEA are in the range of 4.39 × 10‐9‐1.82 × 10‐7 M. More interestingly, a QP5‐AlG‐based rewritable and erasable fluorescent platform was demonstrated, which offers a potential testbed for performing “write‐erase‐write” cycles multiple times. This study provides insight into the development of novel multifunctional supramolecular materials.