[A quantitative study of the presence of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 in cholesteatoma of the middle ear].

Cholesteatoma of the middle ear is an inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of a keratinized squamous layer that leads to bone destruction. The process may be mediated by various factors (interleukins) produced by an activated macrophages and keratinocytes. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were measured in extracts of cholesteatoma and normal tissue using the enzyme immunoassay technique (ELISA) after protein concentrations were determined. IL-1 alpha and IL-6 had higher concentrations in cholesteatoma than in normal skin and played a prominent role in bone resorption.