Medical‐grade silicone induces release of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells without activating T cells

Abstract

For more than 40 years, silicone implants had been employed in aesthetic, cosmetic medicine, and plastic surgery. Although adverse reactions produced by these products are rare, cases of immuno-mediated reactions have been reported. To evaluate the aspects of immuno-reactivity to medical-grade silicone dermal filler, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 39 individuals were studied. PBMC used include individuals with silicone injection-related delayed adverse reactions, with silicone injections, and healthy control. Silicone induced production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in all three groups. Notably, elevated production of IL-6 was observed in nonstimulated PBMC and also the percentage of CD4(+)CD69(+) T cells was higher in PHA-stimulated PBMC from individuals with silicone injection-related adverse reactions when compared with other two groups. However, IFN-gamma was not released in silicone-stimulated or silicone+LPS-stimulated PBMC from any group and no production of IL-2 was measured indicating no proliferative response of PBMC. Subsequently, no CD4(+)CD69(+) T cells were observed in these conditions. Finally, the inflammatory response in silicone-stimulated cultures of monocyte-derived macrophages with autologous lymphocytes is lesser than that observed in PBMC. In conclusion, silicone induces a release of proinflammatory cytokines but does not act as a polyclonal activator of CD4(+) T cells. Thus, silicone is mounting an immune response in individuals with silicone-related adverse effects but is not silicone antigen-dependent.

Are Bacterial Growth and/or Chemotaxis Increased by Filler Injections? Implications for the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Filler-Related Granulomas

“…In spite of that, antibiotics are used as a treatment of this kind of medical complications though the role of antibiotics either as anti-inflammatory or bactericidal drugs is disputable. Although we were not able to demonstrate their anti-inflammatory effect in two previous in vitro studies [21,22], other authors obtained different results. Webster et al [34], in an elegant study, showed that tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin dose-dependently inhibited granuloma formation in vitro.…”

“…There is no doubt that biomaterials may provoke local or systemic chronic granulomatous immune-mediated reactions in some individuals [1,7,8,9,12,16,18,19,20,21,22]. The exact cause of these adverse effects is elusive.…”

“…Blood samples were taken from 110 patients of this cohort. Thereafter, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained according to standard procedures to perform different other studies apart from those mentioned above [11,18,19,20,21,22]. …”

Analysis of Silicones Released from Household Items and Baby Articles by Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry

“…The spectra of some sample showed additional ionic series, typically in the low-mass range of the spectra. For example, the DART spectrum of the NUK Happy Days pacifier reveals the release of some low-mass polyethylene glycols that are detected as [PEG + NH 4 ] + ions (Figure 3). This spectrum has been recalibrated internally on silicone signals in the range of m/z 684 to 1202 prior to formula assignment to the additional compounds.…”

“…However, when studied, the long-term exposure of humans to silicones was found to induce adverse health effects. For example, adverse health effects of silicones released under physiological conditions from breast implants are discussed in the context of breast cancer [1], fibrosis [2], autoimmunity [3], and inflammatory processes [4]. Nonetheless, the use of PDMS and related silicones stills seems to increase and silicone has even been suggested as a potent absorbing material for 3-alkyl-methoxypyrazine responsible for undesirable aromas in wine [5].…”