Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and IL-1-receptor antagonist (IL-1-RA) in middle ear cholesteatoma : an analysis of protein production and biological activity

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 1996-05, Vol.253 (4-5), p.252-255
• Main Authors: BUJIA, J, KIM, C, OSTOS, P, SUDHOFF, H, KASTENBAUER, E, HÜLTNER, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; Cell Line; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear - immunology; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear - pathology; Culture Techniques; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Ear, Middle - immunology; Ear, Middle - pathology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; Interleukin-1 - physiology; Interleukin-2 - physiology; Medical sciences; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Quinolines; Sialoglycoproteins - physiology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00171137

Cytokine networks are now presumed to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. Of the factors identified in cholesteatoma, interleukin-I (IL-1)-alpha appears to be especially important because of its stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation as well induction of bone resorption. To further characterize the possible role of IL-1 in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma, we quantified the levels of IL-1 and IL-1-receptor antagonist (IL-1-RA) present using the bicinchonic acid protein assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on tissue extracts from 20 cholesteatoma specimens. The presence of biologically active IL-1 was also analyzed, using the cell line LBRM-33 and an ELISA for the detection of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Human skin obtained from the external ear canal was used as control. The amounts of IL-1-alpha in cholesteatoma (34.9 +/- 19.5) were higher than in human skin (6.7 +/- 2.8). The observed differences were statistically significant by Student's t-test (P < 0.01). Skin samples showed elevated concentrations of IL-1-RA (248.3 +/- 30.2) in comparison to that in the cholesteatoma (80.8 +/- 13.5). This was also statistically significant (P < 0.01). Whereas IL-1 activity was not detected in skin samples, all cholesteatoma specimens studied showed a stimulation effect on the production of IL-2 when incubated with the cell line LBRM-33. The results point to an over-expression of IL-1 concurrent with a decreased secretion of IL-1-RA in middle ear cholesteatoma. Furthermore IL-1-RA production is deficient relative to total IL-1 production, resulting in the presence of active IL-1.