INTERLEUKIN-1 (IL-1) BIOACTIVITY AND INHIBITION OF IL-1 BIOACTIVITY IN SUPERNATANT FLUID FROM CULTURED MICROPHTHALMIC (MI) MICE TEETH OF DIFFERENT AGES

A functioning dental follicle and bone resorption are necessary for to oth eruption. In the microphthalmic (mi) mouse, bone resorption is def ective and teeth fail to erupt. Local bone metabolism involves the pro duction of cytokines such as interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tran sforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The production of these cytoki nes by dental tissues during eruption may be fundamental to tooth move ment. Molars from mi mice were cultured and supernatants tested for th e presence of these cytokines using bio-dot blotting and ELISA. A thym ocyte bioassay was used to test supernatants for IL-1 bioactivity and IL-1 inhibition bioactivity. IL-1 alpha and TGF-beta were detected in all supernatants. Supernatants demonstrated no IL-1 bioactivity but in hibited IL-1 bioactivity which varied with concentration of supernatan t, age and animal. This study demonstrated that cultured developing te eth secrete IL-1 alpha and TGF-beta however, concentrations varied in normal and pathological states. While IL-1 alpha was present in the su pernatants, all demonstrated a variable ability to inhibit IL-1 bioact ivity. This ability may influence local bone metabolism and hence toot h eruption.