Transglutaminase 2 inhibitors attenuate osteoarthritic degeneration of TMJ-osteoarthritis by suppressing NF-κB activation.

The temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage degradation, subchondral bone erosion, and chronic pain, leading to articular damage and chewing dysfunction. Studies have shown that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) plays a critical role in the development of TMJ-OA. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has been identified as a marker of chondrocyte hypertrophy and IL-1β was able to increase TG2 expression in chondrocytes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the ability of TG2 inhibitors to suppress TMJ-OA progression.