Single-cell RNA Sequeuncing of Healthy and Diseased Rat Temporomandibular Joint Condyle Cartilage and Disc

We have performed single-cell RNA sequencing using 10x Genomics to study the cellular landscape of both healthy and osteoarhtritic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle cartilage and disc tissues. Few studies have performed scRNA-seq on TMJ tissue, and those that have utilized mouse model or human embryo tissues. Here, we are the first to do so using a rat model and using an incisor splint OA-induced model. Understanding the cellular phenotypes within TMJ tissues and how these phenotypes respond to stress is a crucial step towards therepeutic advancements in the field. TMJ condyle cartilage and disc tissue were isolated from the left condyles of healthy(n=8) rats and four-week-long bite-shifted (via incisor splint) rats (n=8). Disc tissue was isolated by removing it from the condyle, and cartilage tissue was scraped from the condyle using a scalpal blade. Each tissue was pooled separately with their respective experimental group and CMO tagged, resulting in 4 samples sequenced.