Mapping cell diversity and position in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis with pain at single cell resolution. Mapping cell diversity and position in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis with pain at single cell resolution

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent disorder affecting patient’s quality of life due to joint pain and dysfunction. A comprehensive understanding of cell type diversity and their dynamics of TMJ along joint degeneration and pain is lacking. Here we established an inflammatory TMJOA mouse model via intra-articular injection of CFA (Complete Freund’s Adjuvant). TMJOA mice exhibited OA and orofacial pain, recapitulating hallmark symptoms in patients. We performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of TMJ followed by the validation. We revealed cellular diversity, anatomic position, and cell dynamics of TMJ at single cell resolution along the joint degeneration and pain. Overall design: Here we established an inflammatory TMJOA mouse model via intra-articular injection of CFA (Complete Freund’s Adjuvant). We performed single-cell transcriptomic profiling of TMJ followed by the validation using mouse genetic labeling, tissue clearing, light sheet and confocal 3D imaging, multiplex RNAscope and immunodetection.