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. 1999 Aug;58(8):503–509. doi: 10.1136/ard.58.8.503

Influence of long term silicone implantation on type II collagen induced arthritis in mice

C Schaefer 1, W Lawrence 1, P Wooley 1
PMCID: PMC1752932  PMID: 10419870

Abstract

OBJECTIVES—The use of silicone implants in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery has been implicated in the development of autoimmune connective tissue diseases. Previous investigation of the influence of short-term silicone implantation using an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis revealed no adverse influence upon disease despite the generation of autoantibodies against silicone bound proteins. This study was designed to examine the influence of long term implantation of different forms of silicone in collagen induced arthritis.
METHODS—DBA/1 mice were surgically implanted with silicone elastomers, gel or oil nine months before immunisation with type II collagen emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. The incidence and severity of arthritis, antibodies to type II collagen, and serum cytokines were assessed and compared with sham implanted mice. Silicone implants were recovered, and autoantibodies to silicone bound proteins evaluated in arthritic and non-arthritic mice.
RESULTS—Immunisation with CII/FIA resulted in a 30% arthritis incidence in sham implanted DBA/1 mice. Long term silicone implantation resulted in an increased incidence of arthritis, with a significant increase of 90% arthritis in animals implanted with silicone elastomers. Animals implanted with silicone elastomer also developed foreign body sarcomas during the study. Serum concentrations of interleukin 10 were increased in mice implanted with elastomers and immunised with CII/FIA, while interleukin 5 concentrations were significantly diminished in these mice. The production of autoantibodies to autologous silicone bound proteins, including anti-type I collagen antibody, was also attributed to the implantation of either silicone gel or silicone elastomer in type II collagen immunised animals.
CONCLUSIONS—These data suggest that long term silicone implantation results in both the production of autoantibodies to connective tissue antigens and increased susceptibility to an experimental model of autoimmune disease.



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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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The per cent incidence and severity of arthritis in DBA/1 mice implanted with various forms of silicone. The severity is shown as the cumulative average per group based on the following scale: 0=normal, 1=erythema and oedema, 2=joint distortion, 3=joint ankylosis.

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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A photograph of a haematoxylin and eosin section of a foreign body sarcoma dissected from a mouse implanted with silicone elastomer.

Figure 3  .

Figure 3  

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Serum cytokine concentrations (IL10 and IL5) in DBA/1 mice implanted with silicone elastomers and control mice.

Figure 4  .

Figure 4  

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Western blot detecting autoantibodies to a high molecular weight silicone bound protein in silicone implanted mice. Arrow indicates reactive band (approximately 100 kDa). Lane 1: proteins extracted from arthritic mice with gel implants; lane 2: non-arthritic mice/gel implants; lane 3: arthritic mice/elastomer implants; lane 4: non-arthritic mice/elastomer implants; lane 5: arthritic mice/oil implants; lane 6: non-arthritic mice/oil implants.

Selected References

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