TY - JOUR
T1 - Spectroscopic Analysis of the Extracellular Matrix in Naked Mole-Rat Temporomandibular Joints
AU - Adachi, Tetsuya
AU - Imamura, Hayata
AU - Yaji, Toyonari
AU - Mochizuki, Kentaro
AU - Zhu, Wenliang
AU - Shindo, Satoru
AU - Shibata, Shunichi
AU - Adachi, Keiji
AU - Yamamoto, Toshiro
AU - Oseko, Fumishige
AU - Mazda, Osam
AU - Miura, Kyoko
AU - Kawai, Toshihisa
AU - Pezzotti, Giuseppe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Naked mole-rats are extremely long-living rodents with a maximum lifespan of 37 years, and their cellular aging and tissue aging are almost nonexistent. Therefore, in this study, we aim to analyze the extracellular matrix of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of naked mole-rats at the molecular level and explore the molecules involved in anti-aging and their localization. Micro-computed tomography (CT) scans revealed increased mineral density and wear of the mandibular condyle in aged mice. Conversely, CT scans did not reveal wear of the mandibular condyle in naked mole-rats, and histological analysis did not reveal wear of the articular disk. Using various spectroscopies and artificial intelligence (AI), we found that the articular disk of naked mole-rats is composed of a cartilage-like layer with hyaluronic acid and collagen fibers with varying orientations, which is thought to have relieved mechanical stress and have protected the mandibular condyle. These results suggest that not only the amount, but also the spatial distribution of the extracellular matrix is important for the anti-aging properties of the TMJ, and may contribute to elucidating the pathology of TMJ disorders and other degenerative conditions and developing therapeutic drugs.
AB - Naked mole-rats are extremely long-living rodents with a maximum lifespan of 37 years, and their cellular aging and tissue aging are almost nonexistent. Therefore, in this study, we aim to analyze the extracellular matrix of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of naked mole-rats at the molecular level and explore the molecules involved in anti-aging and their localization. Micro-computed tomography (CT) scans revealed increased mineral density and wear of the mandibular condyle in aged mice. Conversely, CT scans did not reveal wear of the mandibular condyle in naked mole-rats, and histological analysis did not reveal wear of the articular disk. Using various spectroscopies and artificial intelligence (AI), we found that the articular disk of naked mole-rats is composed of a cartilage-like layer with hyaluronic acid and collagen fibers with varying orientations, which is thought to have relieved mechanical stress and have protected the mandibular condyle. These results suggest that not only the amount, but also the spatial distribution of the extracellular matrix is important for the anti-aging properties of the TMJ, and may contribute to elucidating the pathology of TMJ disorders and other degenerative conditions and developing therapeutic drugs.
KW - anti-aging
KW - extracellular matrix
KW - glycosaminoglycan
KW - hyaluronic acid
KW - naked mole-rat
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008987459
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008987459#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.3390/gels11060414
DO - 10.3390/gels11060414
M3 - Article
C2 - 40558714
AN - SCOPUS:105008987459
SN - 2310-2861
VL - 11
JO - Gels
JF - Gels
IS - 6
M1 - 414
ER -