Breast implant capsules are partially composed of bone marrow-derived cells

Ann Plast Surg. 2007 Apr;58(4):377-80. doi: 10.1097/01.sap.0000243996.37786.4a.

Abstract

Capsular contracture is the most common complication following breast augmentation or reconstruction with implants. We recently demonstrated that bone marrow-derived cells provide fibroblasts to murine skin during wound healing. To determine if bone marrow-derived cells were the cellular source of periprosthetic capsules, we created chimeric C57BL mice containing bone marrow cells from isogeneic enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mice and implanted with a textured silicone shell implant. We found that none of the mice developed infection or capsular contracture, but day 30 capsules were composed of 26.4 +/- 6.1% EGFP cells, and day 60 capsules had 21.8 +/- 10.3% EGFP cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed a small population of EGFP cells in the capsules that were myofibroblasts. Thus, breast implant capsules are partially composed of bone marrow-derived cells and, given the potential of these cells to become myofibroblasts, may explain the cellular source of capsular contracture when it develops.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells*
  • Breast Implants / adverse effects*
  • Chimera
  • Contracture
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / pathology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Silicones / adverse effects

Substances

  • Silicones
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins