真珠腫上皮におけるinterleukin-1α, βの局在

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been thought to be one of the essential cytokines mainly produced by macrophages. It has recently been reported that epidermal keratinocytes produce IL-1, and attention is being paid to local immune reactions mediated with this cytokine. IL-1 not only activates lymphocytes, but also acts as an osteoclast-activating factor. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting on cholesteatomatous epithelium with anti-IL-1α antibody and anti-IL-1β antibody to evaluate the production of IL-1 by epithelial keratinocytes.Highly concentrated IL-1α was found in the cholesteatomatous epithelium, especially in the basal cell layer. The intensity of IL-1β staining was weaker. In the immunoblotting study, the 31 kD band, intracellular immature IL-1 molecule, was identified besides 17 and 52 kD. These findings suggest that IL-1 is derived from cholesteatomatous keratinocytes. IL-1, mainly IL-1α, from the stimulated cholesteatomatous keratinocytes may be one of the important factors for the markedly increased bone resorption observed in cholesteatoma patients.