INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA AND INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA IN PERIAPICAL EXUDATES OF INFECTED ROOT CANALS - CORRELATIONS WITH THE CLINICAL FINDINGS OF THE INVOLVED TEETH

This study quantified the concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in the peritapical exudates obtained from 69 single-rooted teeth using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and examined their correlation with clinical findings of the involved teeth. Changes in the levels of these factors during root can al treatment were also investigated. The average levels of IL-1 beta ( 6.57 ng/ml) in periapical exudates were twice that of IL-1 alpha (3.25 ng/ml). The exudates containing pus showed significantly higher IL-1 alpha levels than those from the canals without pus (p < 0.01). The ex udates from the canals with small radiolucent areas contained signific antly higher IL-1 alpha levels than those from the canals with large r adiolucent areas (p < 0.05). The tendency for there to be an increase in the levels of IL-1 alpha and a decrease in the levels of IL-1 beta was observed following root canal treatment. These observations sugges t that IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are involved in the immunopathogenesis of periapical lesions and that IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta may play diff erent roles in the healing process of periapical lesions during root c anal treatment.