Cytokines and biomarkers of bone resorption and cartilage degeneration in synovial fluid of patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint is characterized by joint tissue degeneration. However, the synthesized and categorized information regarding biomarkers present in synovial fluid samples from patients who have not been treated for this disease is scarce. This review aims to provide an overview of inflammatory cytokines, bone, and cartilage degeneration biomarkers relevant to this temporomandibular disorder (TMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 26 studies from five databases were analyzed, identifying 45 biomarkers. RESULTS: Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha), cartilage degeneration markers (matrix metalloproteinases), and bone resorption markers (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, osteoprotegerin) were most frequently reported. Vascular endothelial growth factor was associated with cartilage degeneration and bone resorption. CONCLUSIONS: These biomarkers may aid in disease characterization; however, further standardized clinical studies are required for validation and comparison with other TMDs.