Choleteatomatous bone destruction is caused by the increase in collagenase and the activation of the osteoclasts. Cytokines, such as interleukins(IL), are important in the intercellular communication in the mechanism of bone destruction. Middle ear cholesteatomas, external auditory canal skins(EACS) and postauricular skins(PAS) are surgically obtained and cultured. The quantities of IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-8 were measured in the supernatant of each culture series. On the second day of culture, the level of IL-1α was 0.50±0.11(pg per g of total protein) in cholesteatoma, 0.22±0.02 in EACS, and 0.59±0.11 in PAS. The level of IL-1β was 0.48±0.08, 0.24±0.02 and 0.39±0.04, respectively. The levels of IL-8 was 112.77±49.8, 51.49±26.5. and 51.12±5.64, respectively. After 2 days, the level of IL-1 and IL-8 of cholesteatoma tissue decreased. Through this study, authors can conclude that the IL-1β form cholesteatomatous epithelium, and IL-1α and IL-8 from subepithelial granulation are responsible for the cholseteatomatous bone destruction and certain substances from subepithelial granulation tissue can stimulate the cholesteatoma to produce IL-1α and IL-8.