BACKGROUND

Capsular contracture is the most common complication of breast implantation surgery. Bacterial contamination was considered to play an important role in the occurrence of capsular contracture, and Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis were discovered in the clinical specimens. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was a component of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria and was sufficient in the pathogenicity of the bacteria. The authors assumed that LTA could trigger the immunologic response against the implant and cause capsular contracture.

METHODS

The authors developed a rat model of capsular contracture by repeated injection of 10 μg/mL LTA. The histologic changes of the capsule tissue were measured by hematoxylin and eosin, sirius red, Masson, and immunohistochemical staining. The expression of related cytokines was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The downstream pathway activation was shown by Western blot. The authors also applied tocilizumab, an interleukin (IL)-6 receptor antagonist, to verify the role of IL-6 in this pathologic process.

RESULTS

The authors discovered that repeated LTA injection, at a low concentration, could induce the thickening of capsule tissue, the deposition of collagen fiber, and the activation of myofibroblasts. The IL-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway was activated in this process, and the inhibition of IL-6 receptor could relieve the symptoms. B cells and T-helper cells, especially T-helper type 1, could be related to this phenomenon.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors' research corroborated that subclinical infection could trigger capsular contracture, and the immune system played an important role in this process. The authors' results provided a possible research direction for the mechanism of bacterial infection-induced immune response against breast implants.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

The authors' research provides a possible research direction for the mechanism of bacterial infection-induced immune response against breast implants, and a potential target for predicting the prognosis of capsular contracture.