Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expression of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-1β in osteomyelitis of different etiology in patients with pyogenic and radioactive osteomyelitis of mandible. Methods: Lesion bone was obtained from patients who were diagnosed as suppurative or radioactive osteomyelitis of mandible. Hematoxylin eosin staining was used to observe the structure of local bone, and the expression levels of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-1β in local tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: IL-17 and IL-6 was significantly increased in pyogenic osteomyelitis. However, the expression of IL-17 and IL-6 was insignificant different between radiation osteomyelitis and normal bone. The expression levels of IL-1β in the local of pyogenic and radioactive osteomyelitis were both increased compared to the normal bone tissues. Conclusion: IL-17 and IL-6 may play a more important role in imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption in the suppurative osteomyelitis, whereas, it has marginal effect on the radioactive osteomyelitis. IL-1β may involve in the occurrence of osteomyelitis of jaws.

Key words: Suppurative osteomyelitis of jaw, Radioactive osteomyelitis of jaw, IL-17, IL-6, IL-1β