Journal of oral rehabilitation
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Analysis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) synovial fluid may elucidate the aetiology of temporomandibular disorders and arthritic conditions, as well as the inflammatory mechanisms involved. Knowledge about healthy synovial fluid is necessary to understand TMJ pathologies. We aimed to quantify the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ in healthy TMJ synovial fluid to serve as reference values for future studies on TMJ pathologies. ⋯ In addition, TNF and INF-γ cytokine levels correlated. We demonstrated that TNF was consistently detected and IFN-γ and IL-2 sporadically detected in the TMJ synovial fluid of healthy individuals using the hydroxocobalamin method and a multiplex assay. The cytokines IL-10, IL-1β and IL-6 were barely detectable in this sample of healthy TMJs.