Neuropeptides in temporomandibular joints with rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical study

Abstract

Abstract— There is evidence that neuropeptides play a role in the development of arthritis. Synovial fluid from arthritic temporomandibular joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was therefore investigated for presence of the neuropeptides calcitonin gene‐related peptide, substance P, neurokinin A and neuropeptide Y. All four peptides were found in the synovial fluid above plasma level, but calcitonin gene‐related peptide showed the highest concentration and substance P the lowest.

Pathogenesis of Degenerative Joint Disease in the Human Temporomandibular Joint

“…Substance P, cGRP, Substance Y, and VIP have been identified in lavage fluids obtained from human temporomandibular joints (Holmlund et al, 1991;Appelgren, 1991Appelgren, , 1993a. Interestingly, the concentrations of these neuropeptides in the temporomandibular joint have been reported to be substantially higher than those observed in other articular joints.…”

“…This discovery suggests an important biological role for these neuropeptides in peripheral tissues. Nerve terminals containing these proinflammatory neuropeptides (i.e., SP and CGRP) have been detected in various tissues of the temporomandibular joint complex Ichikawa et al, 1989Ichikawa et al, , 1990Appelgren, 1991Appelgren, , 1993aHolmlund et al, 1991;Kido et al, 1993). The highest density of these neurons is found in the anterior aspect of the capsular ligament and in the retrodiscal tissue (Johansson etal, 1986;Kidoetal, 1993).…”

Neurokinin-A in Bone and Joint Tissues: Changes in Adjuvant Arthritis

“…A correlation between the concentration of NK-A in the synovial fluid and the degree of arthritis in joints has been indicated in humans. (20)(21)(22) Moreover, tachykinin antagonist inhibits plasma extravasation induced by tachykinin, which was described to play an important role in neurogenic inflammation. (23,24) Although this is the first report on NK-A in arthritic joints, SP has been extensively studied in conjunction with AA.…”

Distribuição dos neurônios e campos terminais que expressam a urocortina 3 no sistema nervoso central de primata não-humano (Cebus apella).

“…The analysis of joint fluid has been used to correlate neuropeptide concentrations with clinical signs and symptoms of TMJ disease 5,17,19,,26,27 . High levels of neuropeptides have been found in the synovial fluid from patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammatory diseases 5,16,19 and in experimentallyinduced TMJ arthritis in rats 20 .Among these neuropeptides are the calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP) and the neuropeptide Y (NPY), both having vasoregulatory functions and originating in sensory and autonomic ganglia, respectively. The autonomic ganglia that supply NPY fibers to the TMJ have been investigated 2,28 ; however, the morphometric characteristics of these perikarya have not been determined.…”

“…It has been verified that there is an increase in the concentrations of NPY and CGRP in the synovial fluid from patients with arthritic knee and temporomandibular joints 15,16,17,18,19 as well as from rats with experimentally induced TMJ arthritis 20 . Several studies have focused on CGRP immunohistochemical expression in sensory neurons that send axons to the knee and lumbar facet joints during arthritis 21,22,23,24,25 .…”