title: Lymphocyte response to silica among offspring of silicone breast implant recipients.
abstract: The current study evaluated immune response to silicon dioxide in children born to women with silicone breast implants. In part one of the study, the T lymphocytes of 21 of 24 such children were significantly stimulated by silicon dioxide (silica). Part two consisted of eleven children, four born preimplantation and seven born postimplantation. None of the preimplant offspring showed T cell responses to silica; five of the seven postimplant children were positive for T cell memory for silica. Part three was a blinded study based on statistically significant differences in T cell stimulation with silicon dioxide between postimplant children and controls. These findings indicate a common immune reaction, that of T cell memory, occurs in mothers and their children born after exposure to silicone mammary implants placed prior to pregnancy. Since not all such children were breast fed the result favors transplacental passage of immunogens such as silicone oligomers or through maternofetal cellular traffic.
authors.affiliation: Baptist Memorial Health Care System, University of Tenessee, Memphis, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Smalley
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Shanklin
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide