FIGURE 2.

Elevation of TLR4 positively correlates with the damage of cartilage and subchondral bone in discectomy‐induced TMJOA mice. A, Compared with control, there was a time‐dependent cartilage thinning (two‐way arrow), chondrocytes decreasing (black arrow) and unmineralized bone areas increasing (black arrowhead), as well as elevation of TLR4 in the cartilage and subchondral bone of discectomy groups. B, Comparison between control and discectomy groups regarding cartilage thickness (*: vs CON, horizontal solid lines, medians; box plots, 25th and 75th percentiles; horizontal bars, minimum and maximum). C, Gradually increased the percentages of unmineralized bone areas in the subchondral bone of discectomy mice comparing with control mice (*: vs CON). D, The expression of TLR4 was increased in the cartilage of discectomy groups gradually. The rate of TLR4 expressing cells in the cartilage was positively correlated with OA score (*: vs 0W). (Data were calculated at each time point using Student's t test, n = 6, *P < .05, **P < .01, ***P < .001). (CON represents control; OA represents TMJOA)