ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expressions of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) in cartilage of children with Kashin-Beck disease(KBD) in order to provide a possible mechanism of the disease. Methods Articular cartilage tissues of 5 KBD children(KBD group) were selected from KBD children autopsy samples keeping in Institute of Endemic Diseases, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University; articular cartilage tissues of 5 normal children ( control group ) were selected from non-KBD areas of Shaanxi Province, three cases were from accident death children, two cases were the samples of congential malformation of six finger. Expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the cartilage were detected using immunohistochemistry; the cells of articular cartilage were divided into three areas (superficial zone, middle zone and deep zone) to analyze the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Results The expressions of IL-1β in superficial zone , middle zone and deep zone of articular cartilage of KBD group (63.50 ± 7.19, 54.75 ± 5.50, 66.20 ± 9.91) were significantly higher than those of control group(5.75 ± 1.26, 0.00 ± 0.00, 0.00 ± 0.00, all P<0.05). The expression of IL-6 in superficial zone of articular cartilage in KBD group(55.25 ± 6.24) was significantly higher than that of control group(0.00 ± 0.00, P<0.05). The expressions of TNF-αin all zone of articular cartilage of KBD group(33.25 ± 6.50, 3.75 ± 0.96, 29.80 ± 1.92) were significantly higher than those of control group (3.74 ± 0.82, 0.00 ± 0.00, 0.00 ± 0.00, all P < 0.05). Conclusion The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α are up-regulated in articular cartilage of KBD children, suggesting that cytokines may play an important role in matrix degradation in KBD children cartilage.