Effect of estrogen on the expression of cytokines of the temporomandibular joint cartilage cells of the mouse.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of estrogen on the synthesis of cytokines of the temporomandibular joint cells.

METHODS

Mandibular condyles of 10 mice were resected. Twenty of these condylar cartilages were removed and placed in organ culture for 24 hours with media containing different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol. The chondroblasts from the mandibular condyles of 3 mice were cultured with different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol the same as above. Cytokine concentrations were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

The expression and concentration of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8 were increased with increasing concentration of 17beta-estradiol. The expression and concentration of IL-4 and IL-10 were not different from the control and experimental group.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that estrogen has the potential to cause temporomandibular joint disease with induction of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8.