REGULATION OF COLLAGEN AND GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN BIOSYNTHESIS BY HUMAN BREAST IMPLANT CAPSULE FIBROBLASTS BY INTERFERON-ALPHA, INTERFERON-BETA AND INTERFERON-GAMMA AND PENTOXIFYLLINE

To determine the therapeutic potential of interferon (IFN) and pentoxifylline treatment for breast implant capsule contractures, we investigated the effect of human recombinant (hu-r) IFNs and pentoxifylline on cultured fibroblasts derived from a fibrotic capsule which developed around an implanted breast prosthesis. Treatment of cultured fibroblasts with hu-r-IFN-alpha(2b), hu-r-IFN-beta-ser(17) or hu-r-IFN-gamma resulted in reduced fibroblast collagen production. Hu-r-IFN-alpha and -beta inhibited fibroblast glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production, while hu-r-IFN-gamma increased GAG production. Pentoxifylline treatment of cultured breast implant capsule fibroblasts markedly inhibited their collagen and GAG production. These results demonstrate that IFNs, especially IFNs-alpha and -beta, and pentoxifylline exhibit antifibrotic activity on breast implant capsule fibroblasts and suggest a rationale for using these agents to treat breast implant capsule fibrosis, a specific form of post-surgical scarring.