IL-1 is a family of pro-inflammatory cytokines that potently stimulate bone resorption. However, the roles of the IL-1a and IL-1b isoforms in stimulating periapical bone resorption following microbial infection of the dental pulp are less defined. Objective: to determine which isoform of IL-1 is the most important stimulator of periapical resorption following pulpal infection. Methods: Mice were subjected to molar pulp exposure and infection with a mixture of 4 endodontic pathogens (day 0). Groups (n=6) of mice were either untreated or treated with neutralizing anti-IL-1 antibodies on days –1, 3, 6, 9, and 13, as follows: Group 1 (no treatment); Group 2 (anti-IL-1á); Group 3 (anti-IL-1â); Group 4 (anti IL-1á & anti IL-1â). Mice were sacrificed on day 20, and periapical bone resorption was quantified by mCT of hemi-mandibles. The other hemi-mandible was used to assess cytokine levels in lesions. Results: Mice treated with anti-IL-1á had larger lesions than control (p<0.05), whereas treatment with anti-IL-1b inhibited lesion formation (p<0.05). Treatment with anti-IL-1á/â had no effect on lesion size vs control. IFNg was reduced in lesions only in the anti-IL-1á/â group (p< 0.02), whereas IL-1á, IL-1â, TNFá, IL-6, and IL-10 were unchanged. Conclusion: IL-1b appears to be associated with periapical bone resorption in the murine model, whereas IL-1a may exert a moderate protective effect. This work supported by grants DE-09018 and DE-11664 from the N.I.D.C.R., and an AAE Foundation Research Award (H.Y.)

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