Adjuvanticity and arthritogenicity of silicone.

Potential adjuvanticity and arthritogenicity of silicone obtained from a mammary implant were investigated. Silicone, injected intraperitoneally in conjunction with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis and EL4 cells (mouse tumor cell, H-2b), failed to enhance the development of immune response directed toward EL4 cells in Lewis rats. Subplantar injection of silicone, alone or in combination with heat-killed M. tuberculosis, also failed to induce adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats. These findings suggest that silicone has neither adjuvant activity nor arthritogenic property and is not an effective substitute for the mineral oil component of Freund's adjuvant.