Inflammatory cell and cytokine patterns in patients with chronic polyarthritis and temporomandibular joint involvement

Objective. To investigate the occurrence of selected markers for inflammatory cells and cytokines in patients with chronic polyarthritis (CPA) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement. Material and Methods. Eleven patients ( 11 joints) with CPA and TMJ disorder were included in the study. Synovial specimens were obtained during TMJ open surgery and these were subjected to immunohistochemistry on frozen sections post-fixed with paraformaldehyde and with the cell membranes permeabilized by saponin. In all patients, the cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1ra, TNF alpha, IFN gamma, IL2, and TGF beta were investigated using specific antibodies. The occurrence of macrophages and T-lymphocytes was investigated using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against antigens CD68 and CD45RO, respectively. In addition, PCNA was used as a marker for cell proliferation. Results. Staining of IL-1 alpha, IL-1, and TGF was seen in all 11 specimens, IFN? in 1, TNF alpha in 4, and IL-2 in none. CD45RO-positive T cells were detected in 7 specimens, CD68-positive macrophages in 6, and cell proliferation seen with PCNA was noted in 8. Conclusions. The predominant cytokines of TMJ CPA were IL1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TGF beta, and there appeared to be no differences between the subgroups ( rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis) involved. Moreover, the cytokine pattern of TMJ CPA patients seemed to differ from patients with osteoarthritis, as shown in our previous study. The main difference was the absence of IFN beta and TNF alpha in TMJ CPA patients and a stronger TGFb and IL-1 alpha expression.