Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42034638›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Identification of synovial lymphatic system in the temporomandibular joint and their roles in arthritis and pain.

Yang Shu, Qing Chang, Ziying Lin, Pao-Fen Ko, Jingyi Chen, Yuyueyang Qiu, Feixiang Chen, Zhen Zhao, Glenn Thomas Clark, Anette Vistoso Monreal and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Yang ShuCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Qing ChangCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Ziying LinCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Pao-Fen KoCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Jingyi ChenCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Yuyueyang QiuCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Feixiang ChenCenter for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Zhen ZhaoCenter for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8967-5570
Glenn Thomas ClarkOrofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Anette Vistoso MonrealOrofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
David AhnOral & Maxillofacial Surgery, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3817-3778
Zhaoyang LiuCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8032-1167
Jian XuCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8162-889X
Jian-Fu ChenCenter for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Jianfu@usc.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9474-5673

Funding

Protein methylation pathways that control genetic susceptibility to environmental pollutants in the occurrence of craniofacial defectsR01DE030928 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI XU, JIAN · 2021 to 2025
$2.1M
Mapping temporomandibular joint (TMJ) degeneration and painR01DE033511 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Jianfu Chen · 2024 to 2026
$1.7M
NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE030928U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) R01DE033511
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis is a craniofacial disorder characterized by joint dysfunction and orofacial pain. Lymphatic regulation and function in TMJ remain unknown. Using genetic reporter mice, human tissues, tissue clearing, 3D volume imaging, and functional studies, we identified a synovial lymphatic system in TMJ. In a mouse model of TMJ arthritis, inflammation induces extensive lymphatic remodeling and leads to synovial lymphatic dysfunctions. Functional genetics and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed that lymphatic deficiency induces a population of fibroblast-macrophage hybrid cells and enhances inflammation, exacerbating cartilage defects, bone loss, synovitis, and pain behaviors in TMJ arthritis mice. Conversely, lymphatic function promotion via a hydrogel-mediated VEGF-C delivery prevents TMJ pain, inflammation, and arthritis-like pathogenesis. Thus, we identified synovial lymphatics in TMJ and found that lymphatic dysfunction drives TMJ arthritis and pain, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

Indexed as

ArthritisLymphatic SystemSynovial MembraneTemporomandibular JointTemporomandibular Joint DisordersAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleFibroblastsHumansMacrophagesMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSynovitisVascular Endothelial Growth Factor CVascular Endothelial Growth Factor C

Identifiers

PMID42034638
PMCPMC13323752

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.