title: Expression of CD44-v6-containing isoform on breast tissue adjacent to silicone breast implants.
abstract: Although a variety of studies exists, the silicone controversy is still going on. In the present study we investigated the expression of the activation markers CD44-v6, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and HLA class II molecules on breast epithelia adjacent to a silicone gel-filled breast implants (SGBI). Using an indirect immunoperoxidase procedure 12 tissue samples from implant recipients were investigated and 6 tissue samples from patients with slight breast hyperplasia were used as controls. Expression of CD44-v6 was found on ductal epithelia in all specimens from implant recipients, HLA-DR was expressed in all specimens, HLA-DQ in 3 of 10, and ICAM-1 in 8 of 12. In contrast, neither CD44-v6 nor HLA-DQ nor ICAM-1 were expressed on ductal epithelia from patients with slight breast hyperplasia, and HLA-DR was only weakly expressed in 2 of 6 patients. These data show that CD44-v6 can be expressed by benign cells under certain conditions, which may indicate an abnormal state of activation in breast tissue adjacent to an SGBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gröner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biemer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D018427:Breast Implants; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012016:Reference Values; D012086:Reoperation; D012828:Silicones / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D012828:Silicones; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1