In vitro screening of inflammatory responses to polypropylene-based surgical mesh used in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse

Abstract

Polypropylene-based mesh used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence was repurposed for gynecological surgery without clinical or pre-clinical testing leading to women facing adverse reactions. Foreign materials implanted in the body activate an immune response that can result in chronic inflammation often causing rejection of the material or pain. We present a novel in vitro method to screen inflammatory responses to surgical mesh where it was found that introducing mesh to polarized macrophages induced an increased expression of inflammatory proteins and genes.