Abstract
The most common complication of silicone breast implants is capsular contracture (massive scar formation around the implant). We postulate that capsular contracture is always a sequel to inflammatory processes, with both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms participating. In general, fibroblasts and macrophages have been used as cell types to evaluate in vitro the biocompatibility of breast implant surfaces. Moreover, also T cells have been found at the implant site at the initial stage of fibrous capsule formation. However, only few studies have addressed the influence of surfaces with different textures on T-cell responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immune response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to commercially available silicone breast implants in vitro. PBMC from healthy female blood donors were cultured on each silicone surface for 4 days. Proliferation and phenotype of cultured cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytokine levels were determined by multiplex and real-time assay. We found that silicone surfaces do not induce T-cell proliferation, nor do they extensively alter the proportion of T cell subsets (CD4, CD8, naïve, effector memory). Interestingly, cytokine profiling identified matrix specific differences, especially for IL-6 and TNF-α on certain surface topographies that could lead to increased fibrosis.
Highlights
Breast augmentation with silicone mammary implants (SMI) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in aesthetic surgery [1]
Proliferation and subsets of human T cells are not affected after exposure to silicone breast implant surfaces
Following SMI implantation, a natural foreign body reaction occurs with infiltration of macrophages and T cells into the site [27,28]
Summary
Breast augmentation with silicone mammary implants (SMI) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in aesthetic surgery [1]. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), officially more than 200.000 breast augmentations were performed in USA alone in 2015 [2]. The International Society of Plastic and Regenerative Surgeons (ISPRES) reported that in 2013, 1.7 million breast augmentations were performed in the rest. Influence of silicone breast implant surfaces on T cell behavior support included the salary of a senior postdoc This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials
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