Lubricin maintains temporomandibular joint homeostasis by regulating synovial inflammation

These findings highlight the region-specific and time-dependent function of <i>Prg4</i> in the TMJ and underscore its critical role in suppressing joint inflammation and degeneration. Importantly, our results suggest that modulation of <i>Prg4</i> expression or lubricin supplementation could serve as a regenerative therapeutic strategy for preserving TMJ homeostasis and preventing chronic degenerative progression, providing a promising avenue for clinical translation in TMJ-OA treatment.