Association of estrogen receptor alpha 1 and TMJ dysfunction: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Immunohistochemistry
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Background:

• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a leading cause of orofacial pain, predominantly affecting women, suggesting a hormonal influence.
• Estrogen receptor alpha 1 (ERα1) is implicated in various physiological processes, and its role in TMD warrants investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between TMD, condyle fracture (CFx), and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha 1 (ERα1) in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk tissues.
• To explore potential correlations between ERα1 expression, age, and specific TMD subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 40 TMJ disk specimens from 27 patients.
• Specimens were categorized into three groups: condyle fracture (CFx), anterior disk displacement with reduction (ADDwR), and anterior disk displacement without reduction (ADDwoR).
• Statistical comparisons of age, immunostaining area, and intensity were conducted using ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in age were observed among the CFx, ADDwR, and ADDwoR groups.
• Immunohistochemical examination revealed no significant differences in the expression levels of estrogen receptor alpha 1 (ERα1) across the studied groups.
• Neither the area nor the intensity of ERα1 immunostaining showed significant variation between TMD and CFx patient groups.

Conclusions:

• The study found no association between estrogen receptor alpha 1 expression and the presence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) or condyle fracture (CFx).
• Age was also not found to be associated with estrogen receptor alpha 1 expression in the analyzed TMJ disk tissues.
• These findings suggest that ERα1 expression may not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of TMD or CFx in the studied patient population.