In odontogenic osteolytic lesions, the mechanism involved in inflammation 때d osteolysis is still under debate. We investigated the role 。OL-l ~ -1 ß, -4, -6, -8, TNF- a in the expansion of the odontogenic cysts, by using 50 cases of excised odontogenic cysts. The degrees of inflammation were graded into 2 groups and immunohistochernical stainings were performed, The cytoplasrnic reaction in squamous epithelial cells, stromal cells and infIitrating inflammatory cells was examined. The relationship between the expressions of IL-1 q -1 ß, -4, -6, -8, π-JF- aand the degree of inflammation and the correlation among them were analyzed. 까1e 비Stilαγtic expressions of IL-l ~ IL-l ß and TNF-awere 66.6%, 66.6% and 4O.00Al respeαively and the epithelial exp~않sions of IL-4, -6, -8 were 32.00Al, 38.00Al and 24.00Al respeαively. IL-4, -6 and 용 were positively stained in plasma cells in 38.00Al, endothelial cells in 40.00/0 and neutrophils in 24. 00Al respectively. The expresssion rate of IL-4 in plasma cells and IL-8 in epithelium and neutrophils were inα얹sed in ca않s with marked inflammation. 까1e exp!1않sion rate of IL-1 ßin 피해ocytes and IL-4 in plasma cells were positively correlated with the expæssion of TNF-1 ain histiocytes. π1e expression rate of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 in the epithelium were correlated with the expression of IL-6 in the epithelium and endothelial cells. A1though statistically insi.맑표ìcant， the expression rate of IL-6 were decreased in cases with marked inflammation and nega디vely correlated with IL-8, the proinflammatory cytokine, and the expressions of IL-4 and IL-6 in the epithelium can be considered as inhibiting the inflammatory reaction. These results suggest that the expressions of IL-4 and IL-6 suppress and IL-8 stimulates the inflammatory reaction in Odontogenic Cysts.