Mechanical stress reduces secreted frizzled-related protein expression and promotes temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis via Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Aims: Mechanical stress overload in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an important cause of TMJ osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Whether secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs) play important roles in the development of mechanical stress-induced TMJOA remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the roles of the Wnt/ 13-catenin signaling and SFRPs in the progression of mechanical stress-induced TMJOA. Methods: We investigated the progression of mechanical stress-induced TMJOA using an in vivo model via modified increased occlusal vertical dimension (iOVD) malocclusion and an in vitro model in which isolated chondrocytes were subjected to mechanical stress. The effects of inhibition of Wnt/13-catenin signal on TMJOA induced by mechanical stress were studied by in vitro drug added and in vivo intra-articular injection of XAV939. TMJOA progression, Wnt/13-catenin signaling and SFRPs was assessed by Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) analysis, histochemical and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Results: Our in vivo results showed that iOVD-induced mechanical stress in the TMJ disrupted mandible growth, induced OA-like changes in TMJ cartilage, and increased OA-related cytokine expression. In addition, iOVD activated Wnt/13-catenin signaling and suppressed Sfrp1, Sfrp3, and Sfrp4 expression in condylar cartilage. Moreover, our in vitro study showed that stress disrupted homeostasis, activated Wnt/13-catenin signaling and inhibited SFRP3 and SFRP4 expression in chondrocytes. Suppression of Wnt/13-catenin signaling with XAV-939 promoted SFRP3 and SFRP4 expression and rescued mechanical stress-induced cartilage degeneration in vivo and in vitro. Conclusions: Our work suggests that mechanical stress reduces SFRPs expression both in vivo and in vitro and promotes TMJOA via Wnt/13-catenin signaling. Suppression of Wnt/13-catenin signaling promotes SFRPs expression, especially SFRP3 and SFRP4 expression, and rescues mechanical stress-induced cartilage degeneration. Wnt/13-catenin signaling and SFRPs may represent potential therapeutic targets for TMJOA.