Silicone gel and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane potentiate antibody production to bovine serum albumin in mice.

Earlier studies, in the rat, have shown that silicone gel acts as a potent adjuvant for antibody production against bovine serum albumin (BSA). The purpose of the present study is to determine whether components of the silicone breast implant (silicone oil, silicone gel, and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane [D4]) potentiate the antibody response to BSA in mice. Groups of ten A/J mice received a single subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml of BSA emulsified with the following: a) silicone preparations, b) incomplete Freund's adjuvant, or c) saline alone. Antibodies to BSA were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. The results indicate that both D4 and the silicone gel potentiate antibody production to BSA in mice. Known adjuvants have been shown to induce autoimmune syndromes in animal models. Whether silicones can act in a similar mechanism is still unclear.