Effects of TGF-β on Hyaluronan Anabolism in Fibroblasts Derived from the Synovial Membrane of the Rabbit Temporomandibular Joint

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Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA) synthesis in the synovial membrane is affected by various chemical mediators. It is hypothesized that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) would be a mediator to modulate HA synthesis in cultured synovial membrane fibroblasts of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Fibroblasts were extracted from the TMJ synovial membrane of four-week-old Japanese white rabbits. The amount of HA and expression levels of HA synthase (HAS) mRNAs induced by TGF-β1 treatment were analyzed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography and real-time polymerase chain-reaction, respectively. Both medium and large amounts of HA were enhanced by the stimulation of TGF-β1. HAS2 mRNA expression was enhanced 13-fold after six-hour stimulation with TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL), whereas HAS3 mRNA expression was not changed significantly. These results suggest that TGF-β1 enhances the expression of HAS2 mRNA in the TMJ synovial membrane fibroblasts and may contribute to the production of high-molecular-weight HA in the joint fluid.