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Characterization of innate and adaptive immune cells involved in the foreign body reaction to polypropylene meshes in the human abdomen

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

Hernia, Volume: 26, Issue: 1, Pages: 309 - 323

Swansea University Author: Luke Davies Orcid Logo

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Abstract

BackgroundPolypropylene (PP) mesh is widely used to reinforce tissues. The foreign body reaction (FBR) to the implant is dominated by innate immune cells, especially macrophages. However, considerable numbers of adaptive immune cells, namely T cells, have also been regularly observed, which appear t...

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Published in: Hernia
ISSN: 1265-4906 1248-9204
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2022
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61693
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Abstract: BackgroundPolypropylene (PP) mesh is widely used to reinforce tissues. The foreign body reaction (FBR) to the implant is dominated by innate immune cells, especially macrophages. However, considerable numbers of adaptive immune cells, namely T cells, have also been regularly observed, which appear to play a crucial role in the long-term host response.MethodsThis study investigated the FBR to seven human PP meshes, which were removed from the abdomen for recurrence after a median of one year. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, the FBR was examined for various innate (CD11b+ myeloid, CD68+ macrophages, CD56+ NK) and adaptive immune cells (CD3+ T, CD4+ T-helper, CD8+ cytotoxic, FoxP3+ T-regulatory, CD20+ B) as well as “conventional” immune cells (defined as cells expressing their specific immune cell marker without co-expressing CD68).ResultsT-helper cells (19%) and regulatory T-cells (25%) were present at comparable rates to macrophages, and clustered significantly toward the mesh fibers. For all cell types the lowest proportions of “conventional” cells (< 60%) were observed at the mesh–tissue interface, but increased considerably at about 50–100 µm, indicating reduced stimulation with rising distance to the mesh fibers.ConclusionBoth innate and adaptive immune cells participate in the chronic FBR to PP meshes with T cells and macrophages being the predominant cell types, respectively. In concordance with the previous data, many cells presented a “hybrid” pattern near the mesh fibers. The complexity of the immune reaction seen within the foreign body granuloma may explain why approaches focusing on specific cell types have not been very successful in reducing the chronic FBR.
Keywords: Foreign body reaction; Adaptive immune system; Innate immune system; Mesh; Fluorescence microscopy
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: 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: 1
Start Page: 309
End Page: 323