Phagocytosis of different particulate dermal filler substances by human macrophages and skin cells.
BACKGROUND
Foreign substances have been introduced into the human body with varying degrees of success. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres of different sizes recently have been manufactured for use as a filler substances in the skin and other organs.


OBJECTIVE
To establish whether the size of PMMA microspheres determines whether various cell types initiate phagocytosis.


METHODS
The capacity of three different cell lines-U-937 cells, XS 106 and XS 52 Langerhans cells, and HaCaT keratinocytes-to phagocytose microspheres of varying sizes was examined using light and confocal microscopy as well as fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha secretion was also determined.


RESULTS
The U-937 cells, keratinocytes, and Langerhans cells could phagocytose PMMA particles of 20 microm or smaller. Microspheres larger than 20 microm were not ingested by any of the cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Microspheres larger than 20 microm have a lower likelihood of being phagocytosed. Thus this study suggests that microspheres 40-50 microm in diameter are less likely to initiate an inflammatory reaction when injected into the dermis and subdermis as a filler substance. On the other hand, microparticles made of silicone and polymethacrylate were phagocytosed, possibly because of their different structure.
Morhenn
Vera B
VB
Divisions of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA. Verajonath@AOL.com
Lemperle
Gottfried
G
Gallo
Richard L
RL
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate