Cholesteatoma constitutes an acquired benign epidermal non‑permanent bone lesion that is locally destructive and patients often relapse.
Inflammasomes, which mediate the maturation and production of IL‑18 and IL‑1β, resulting in pyroptosis, have been documented to serve a core function in multiple inflammatory conditions. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is an
inflammasome that identifies cytoplasmic
DNA and has previously been reported as a pivotal modulator of inflammatory responses. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the expression levels of AIM2 in human
cholesteatoma tissues, and elucidate its function in modulating
cytokine production. The expression levels of IL‑18, apoptosis‑associated speck‑like
protein containing a CARD (ASC), IL‑1β, AIM2 and caspase‑1 were markedly elevated in
cholesteatoma tissues.
Protein expression levels of AIM2, caspase‑1 and ASC were localized in the cellular cytoplasm, primarily in the granular and prickle‑cell layers in the
cholesteatoma epithelium. Induction using IFN‑γ, as well as cytoplasmic
DNA markedly activated the AIM2
inflammasome and elevated the release of IL‑18 and IL‑1β in human
cholesteatoma keratinocytes. IFN‑γ was found to enhance
poly(dA:dT)‑induced pyroptosis of cells and
cytokine production. The results of the present study revealed that AIM2 expressed in human
cholesteatoma serves a vital function in the inflammatory response by initiating the
inflammasome signaling cascade in
cholesteatoma.