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Tissue remodeling macrophages morphologically dominate at the interface of polypropylene surgical meshes in the human abdomen

A. Dievernich Orcid Logo, P. Achenbach, Luke Davies Orcid Logo, U. Klinge

Hernia, Volume: 24, Issue: 6, Pages: 1175 - 1189

Swansea University Author: Luke Davies Orcid Logo

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Abstract

BackgroundMesh implants are widely used to reinforce the abdominal wall, although the inevitable inflammatory foreign body reaction (FBR) at the interface leads to complications. Macrophages are suspected to regulate the subsequent scar formation, but it is still unclear whether adequate fibrous sca...

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Published in: Hernia
ISSN: 1265-4906 1248-9204
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2020
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61680
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Abstract: BackgroundMesh implants are widely used to reinforce the abdominal wall, although the inevitable inflammatory foreign body reaction (FBR) at the interface leads to complications. Macrophages are suspected to regulate the subsequent scar formation, but it is still unclear whether adequate fibrous scar formation with collagen deposition depends mainly on the presence of M1 or M2 macrophages.MethodsThis study investigated the FBR to seven human polypropylene meshes, which were removed after a median incorporation time of 1 year due to the primary complaint of recurrence. Using immunofluorescence, the FBR was examined in six regional zones with increasing distance from the mesh fibers up to 350 µm, based on the cell densities, macrophage M1 (CD86) and M2 (CD163, CD206) phenotypes, deposition of collagen-I and -III, and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -8 as indicator of collagen degradation.ResultsAll mesh–tissue complexes demonstrated a decrease in cell density and macrophages with distance to the mesh fibers. Overall, about 60% of the macrophages presented an M2 phenotype, whereas only 6% an M1 phenotype. Over 70% of macrophages showed co-expression with collagen-I or -III and over 50% with MMP-2.ConclusionsThe chronic FBR to polypropylene meshes is associated with an M2 macrophage response, which is accompanied by collagen deposition and MMP-2 expression. These findings challenge the idea that mainly M1 macrophages are related to inflammation and highlights that iatrogenic attempts to polarize these cells towards the M2 phenotype may not be a solution to ameliorate the long-term foreign body reaction.
Keywords: Foreign body reaction; Macrophage; Collagen; Mesh; Fluorescence microscopy
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.. Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. The support by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FKZ 13GW0108B) enabled the acquisition of the TissueGnostics system.
Issue: 6
Start Page: 1175
End Page: 1189