Abstract: Immune Functional Impairment In Patients With Clinical
Abnormalites and Silicone Breast Implants.
Authors: Vojdani, Campbell, Brautbar
Source: Toxicol Ind. Health
1992 Nov.-Dec. 8 (6):415-29
Abstract: Silicone, previously throught to be a bilogically inert and
harmless material, has now been re****ted to elicit antibody response
and to be responsible for adjuvant disease in humans.
The present study was designed to evaluate the immune function of 40
individuals who had undergone silicone breast augmentation for a
period of longer than 10 years and who were compared with 40 *** and
age-matched controls.
The following immunological functions were studies: lymphocyte subset
analysis, lymphocyte mitogenic response, NK cytotoxic activity and
markers for autoimmunity such as ANA, rheumatoid factor immune
complexes such as smooth muscle, myelin, and thyroid, and tissue
antibodies.
Results of lymphocyte subpopulation analysis showed significantly
elevated T helper/suppressor ratioin 60% and significantly decreased T
helper/suppressor ratio in 7.5% of the silicone implant group, while
the control group showed increased helper/suppressor ratio only in 10%
of tested individuals and no significant decrease in the T helper/
suppressor ratio. There was 20% inhibition in T cell mitogenic
responses in the silicone implant group, which is significant when
compared to the controls. When NK cytotoxic activity was compared
between the two groups, significant
inhibition in the ability of lymphocytes to kill tumor target cells
was observed in the silicone implant group.
This inability of target cell lysis was attributed to the demonstrated
lack of granularity of NK cells from the silicone implant group. There
was significant increase in: immune complexes, anti-nuclear
antibodies, anti-thyroid antibodies, anti-striated muscle cell
antibody, and anti-myelin basic protein antibodies.
These silicone breast augmentation indicate a mechanism of tissue
injury to these patients, causing autoimmune diseases or syndromes.
Since autoimmunity in some other conditions is associated with
abnormalities in the HLA s*****yping system, and with a higher
incidence of the HLA s*****yping system, it is recommended tha HLA
studies be included in future investigations of immune-mediated
abnormalities associated with abnormalities of the T helper/suppressor
ratio, increased autoimmunity, as well as increased production of
immune complexes.
Silicone implants have been used in cosmetic and reconstrutive surgery
more than 30 years. The gel used in the implant is produced from
silicone, which is then related with methyl chloride and polymerized
to form stable polydimethylsiloxane. There have been a number of
re****ts describing the occurrence of connective tissue disease in
patients after the implantation of silicone.
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