The influence of silicone implantation on experimental models of autoimmunity

• Main Author: Schaefer, Caralee Joyce
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1997
• Subjects: Immunology; Medicine; Surgery
• ISBN: 9780591664317; 0591664313

The use of silicone implants in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery has recently been implicated in the development of autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs), including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have investigated the influence of different forms of silicone, including elastomers, gel and oil, in two experimental models of autoimmunity, to determine whether silicone implantation exacerbates autoimmune disease. The hypothesis is that implanted silicone may elicit an inflammatory autoimmune reaction, which in susceptible individuals may increase reactivity to autoantigens and exacerbate or trigger autoimmune disease. The influence of short term (70 day) silicone implantation was investigated in the murine collagen-induced arthritis model (CIA) and the MRL model of murine lupus. No adverse influence of silicone on the clinical parameters of disease was observed in either disease model in these studies. However, silicone increased circulating levels of IL-2 in both models, and increased the production of anti-DNA autoantibodies in the MRL model. Silicone implantation also resulted in the production of novel autoantibodies directed against autologous high molecular weight silicone-bound proteins (SBPs) in both of these studies. The influence of long term (12 month) silicone implantation in the CIA model was also investigated, to determine if there are latent effects of silicone. Long term silicone elastomer implantation resulted in an increased incidence and severity of arthritis in this study. A significant number of silicone elastomer implanted animals also developed foreign body sarcomas. The long term implantation of silicone gel and elastomer in the CIA model provoked the production of novel autoantibodies to a SBP, determined to be type I collagen. These results suggest that silicone implantation results in the production of novel autoantibodies in two experimental models of autoimmune disease, and the long term implantation of silicone exacerbates autoimmune disease in the CIA model.