Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor are essential in controlling an experimental orthopedic implant-associated infection.

Orthopedic implant-associated infection (OIAI) is a major complication that leads to implant failure. In preclinical models of Staphylococcus aureus OIAI, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are induced, but whether they have interactive or distinctive roles in host defense are unclear. Herein, a S. aureus OIAI model was performed in mice deficient in IL-1α, IL-1β, or TNF. Mice deficient in IL-1β or TNF (to a lesser extent) but not IL-1α had increased bacterial burden at the site of the OIAI throughout the 28-day experiment. IL-1β and TNF had a combined and critical role in host defense as mice deficient in both IL-1R and TNF (IL-1R/TNF-deficient mice) had a 40% mortality rate, which was associated with markedly increased bacterial burden at the site of the OIAI infection. Finally, IL-1α- and IL-1β-deficient mice had impaired neutrophil recruitment whereas IL-1β-, TNF-, and IL-1R/TNF-deficient mice all had impaired recruitment of both neutrophils and monocytes. Therefore, IL-1β and TNF contributed to host defense against S. aureus OIAI and neutrophil recruitment was primarily mediated by IL-1β and monocyte recruitment was mediated by both IL-1β and TNF.