Af. Wells et al., LOCAL INCREASE IN HYALURONIC-ACID AND INTERLEUKIN-2 IN THE CAPSULES SURROUNDING SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS, Annals of plastic surgery, 33(1), 1994, pp. 1-5
Connective tissue disease-like illness has been associated with silico
ne breast implants. However, no data are currently available on the im
munopathology of the capsule surrounding the breast implants. Sera fro
m women with breast implants were collected and assayed for interleuki
n-6 (IL-6), IL-2, and hyaluronic acid. Capsular biopsies were stained
with a probe for HYA or with monoclonal antibodies specific for human
macrophages (CD68), T cells (CD4), IL-6, and IL-2. Control specimens c
onsisted of breast biopsies from women undergoing reduction mammoplast
y. Our results revealed an increased local amount of hyaluronic acid i
n the capsule of patients with breast implants compared with control b
reast tissue. The HYA was localized extracellularly in areas containin
g fibrosis and cellular infiltrates. The infiltrating cells were deter
mined to be primarily macrophages and T cells. No IL-6 was localized i
n any of the tissue sections. In contrast, large amounts of IL-2 were
found in regions of infiltrating lymphocytes. No significant increase
in IL-6, IL-2, or hyaluronic acid was found in the sera. The role of h
yaluronic acid and cytokines in the inflammatory response in the capsu
les of silicone breast implants is discussed.