Detection of interleukin-6 in human dental pulp and periapical lesions

Pulpal and periapical diseases are characterized by inflammation. The cytokine IL-6 is a major mediator of the host response to tissue injury and infection. This study examined the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in six inflamed human pulps and six human periapical lesions of endodontic origin using ELISA. Pulp samples from eight clinically impacted teeth were used as controls. The periapical samples exhibited significant levels of IL-6 (mean = 78.1 +/- 9 pg/mg protein) as did inflamed pulpal tissues mean = 36 +/- 3.9 pg/mg protein) compared to healthy pulp mean = 0.01 +/- 0.02 pg/mg protein). These data indicated that IL-6 was produced and released locally in the inflamed pulpal and periapical lesions.