Upregulation of mRNA of interleukin-1 and-6 in subchondral cystic lesions of four horses

This study investigated the potential association interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) in horse s. With the technique of in situ hybridisation in paraffin sections of fibr ous tissue of SCL and quantitative real-time PCR in fresh frozen fibrous ti ssue and undecalcified bone sections of SCE embedded in acrylic resin, upre gulation of mRNA of both cytokines could be demonstrated, mRNA of IL-1 beta was upregulated at the periphery of the cystic lesion adjacent to normal b one, whereas IL-6 mRNA was upregulated within the fibrous tissue found with in the centre of the SCL, It was concluded that both cytokines are associat ed in pathological bone resorption observed in SCL and, in combination with increased production of prostaglandin E-2, may be responsible for the slow healing, maintenance or further expansion of the cystic lesion.