Coating of an anti-Fas antibody on silicone: first in vivo results.

[BACKGROUND] Although the etiology of capsular contracture after breast augmentation has not yet been definitively clarified, the literature contains numerous reports placing the blame on a foreign body reaction. We have developed a procedure for covalently activating a silicone surface with an anti-Fas antibody, which might suppress the foreign body reaction on the silicone surface.

[OBJECTIVES] The authors evaluate whether surrounding tissue might be influenced by anti-Fas antibody coating on silicone disks in comparison to untreated silicone disks in an in vivo model.

[METHODS] During this study, 4-mm anti-Fas-coated silicone disks were implanted subcutaneously in the paravertebral region of mice (C57/BL6). Silicone disks passing the activation coating process without anti-Fas antibody incubation were defined as the control group. Twelve weeks after implantation, the disks were removed and the surrounding tissue examined.

[RESULTS] The tissue surrounding the silicone disks in the experimental group showed significantly increased levels of collagen type 3, elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9, markedly decreased levels of transforming growth factor β2, and a reduced CD68 expression in the pericapsular tissue.

[CONCLUSIONS] The first in vivo data reveal that the tissue surrounding a silicone surface can be influenced by the vectored binding of an anti-Fas antibody.