Non-lactational mastitis refers to a group of conditions, including GLM, PCM, subareolar abscess, and lymphocytic sclerosing lobular mastitis. Previously regarded as an infrequent non-cancerous inflammatory disease in mammary glands during the non-lactational phase, GLM's prevalence has significantly increased globally. Reports from European and American countries suggest that non-lactational mastitis accounts for 3% of benign breast diseases (16–20). However, at our hospital, we found that non-lactational mastitis constituted approximately 10% of all surgeries performed for benign breast diseases. Among them, the most frequent procedures were GLM and PCM. In recent years, reports confirmed the increasing rates of GLM among Asian and Hispanic women in the Asia-Pacific region (21), highlighting its significance in these geographical areas. Misdiagnosis rate associated with GLM was found to be as high as 40%, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing it from other conditions such as inflammatory breast cancer or lactating mastitis (22–25). GLM presents symptoms such as primary breast pain, nipple discharge, pull invagination in breasts without breastfeeding periods and centripetal developing scleroderma alongside abscesses which can develop into a "orange peel" appearance on skin along with swelling and enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Although clinical staging holds significant value in surgery because it directly impacts surgical approach techniques used postoperative cosmetic outcomes patient psychological rehabilitation; several scholars argue that granulomatous mastitis types should be classified by molecular expressions similar to those observed in breast cancer expressing inflammatory factors rather than clinical stages with varying progression levels resulting treatment differences along with prognosis based on uniformity not guaranteed(25–27).
In 1972, Kesler first documented the disease as being self-limiting (28). However, Cohen (17) suggested that it could be an autoimmune origin focal lesion. Domestic studies have validated varying levels of immune dysfunction in non-lactational mastitis patients. Chen et al. (18) observed an increase in the percentage of CD3 and CD4/CD8 T cell subgroups as well as elevated levels of IgG, IGLM, and IgA with a decrease in complement C3 but an elevation in C4 levels. Meanwhile, Xia et al. suggest about half of the patients showed reduction in quantity across multiple T lymphocyte subsets; this was accompanied by varied degrees of increase in immunoglobulin and decreased C4 level when analyzed for possible complement disorder issues (29–31). The underlying factors contributing to inconsistent results could vary with discrepancies amidst specimens utilized or fluctuations amidst GLM, PCM, Zuska disease composition ratios or even discrepant stages the disease progresses through. Analysis had shown both cellular immunity and humoral immunity were involved within the presented case reports detailing diagnosis support via pathological examination endorsed by certain experts drug administration like glucocorticoid along with surgery intervention described to bring positive clinical effects on treating related symptoms Moreover anti-tuberculosis intervention was recognized centrally into comprehensive treatment paradigms advocated by prominent scholars who endorses a multidisciplinary approach focusing on complementary traditional Chinese medicine interventions alongside aforementioned tools to improve patient prognosis overall (31–36).
There are two main types of macrophages (37). The first one, known as M1 macrophages or classically activated macrophages, help eliminate microbes and cancerous cells by triggering the immune response. However, they also produce harmful byproducts and present antigens to T-cells. M1 macrophages play a protective role against pathogenic infections and possess anti-tumor properties. On the other hand, the second type named M2 or activated macrophages produce a variety of cytokines that activate an anti-inflammatory response aiming at cease inflammatory reactions in tissues for quicker repairment(38). Therefore, maintaining internal body balance is possible via balancing pro-inflammatory response with its counterpart: Anti-inflammatory reaction.
CD68 is a molecule found on the surface of macrophages. Chronic inflammation often involves an increase in macrophage activity, leading to more macrophages showing up in patient samples from those having granulomatous mastitis (GLM). For early stage GLM patients, cortisol may be an effective treatment option and could reduce the need for surgery. Chronic stress has been shown to suppress immune function, complicating treatments geared towards increasing extended cortisol use (39–40).
A recent study revealed that both plasmacyte mastitis and granulomatous mastitis contain M2-type macrophages which suggests they share a common immune pathway causing tumorigenesis. There was no significant difference of observed levels of macrophage expression between acute or chronic stages indicating low doses of glucocorticoids during initial phases are a viable therapeutic approach. During the chronic phase, inhibition or suppression of tumor promotion by M1 to M2 transition pathway can lead to better outcomes with post-operative complications. For GLM patients, some are treated with three anti-tuberculosis drugs which have proven useful in specific instances alongside early glucocorticoid coverage; however this method's long-term effectiveness is still unproven pending further research due to lack of medical evidence supporting it conclusively. It is believed that certain substances can heighten the function capacity for processes such as clearance and secretion undertaken by these cells.(41)
NK cells area significant part of the body's defence system and specifically target ubiquitin to eliminate harmful pathogens. These cells possess anti-tumor and anti-viral properties while also regulating the immune system. However, their improper functioning can lead to autoimmune diseases. The maturation of CD25 + NK cells could help in reducing chronic illnesses associated with immunosenescence. NK cells have an important role in the early natural immune response as well as acquired immunity by releasing both stimulatory and inhibitory cytokines, connecting the two types of immunity together (37–40). Liang and his team hypothesized that specific TAAS expression patterns are associated with better tumor differentiation, smaller tumor size, and an increased presence of CD25-positive natural killer cells.
They explored the possibility that inflammatory factors' expression levels could indicate the progression of GLM tumors. The results suggest that CD25-positive NK cell levels may differentiate between GLM from non GLM cases. During GLM development, these cells become upregulated peaking within 15 to 90 days after disease onset. Conversely, in non-GLM cases, CD25 expression remained unchanged. The findings suggest that NK cells and their cytokines play a crucial role in clinical outcomes for patients with GLM. The study also identified a potential link between pregnancy or lactation and PCM onset as evidenced by increases in NK cell expression among patients diagnosed two years post-delivery. Shifting immune responses from Th2 during pregnancy to Th1 postpartum have been linked to numerous autoimmune flare-ups (40–41). Therefore it is essential to monitor immune indices during mastitis patients for at least two years post-delivery regardless of whether they were lactating or not. IgG, a type of globulin that relies on Th2 cells, has a section known as Fc which can attach itself to mast cells.
This process contributes to the body's allergic reactions (38). Autoimmune disorders associated with IgG have been linked to various inflammatory conditions like autoimmune pancreatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, sclerosing cholangitis, and inflammatory pseudotumors (33–36). Cases of breast inflammatory pseudotumors have been reported as being related to IgG (37). Immunohistochemical staining showed positive results of numerous plasma cells that had an increased concentration of serum IgG in affected patients. Measuring serum IgG can serve as an effective biomarker for inflammatory pseudotumors in the mammary gland and hormone therapy could be an advantageous treatment option. Clinicopathological characteristics indicate similarities between breast inflammatory pseudotumors and GLM which could potentially be connected to IgG. Granulomatous mastitis is classified into two categories: IgG-related and non-IgG-related. The former occurs during pregnancy, while the latter is linked to autoimmune disorders. Steroid hormone therapy has proven effective in treating non-IgG granulomatous lobular mastitis, reducing the risk of postoperative mammary gland damage and aiding patients' psychological convalescence. This intervention has been studied by Ogura, Cheuk et al. (32–38).
IgG-SM is a type of inflammation that affects the mammary gland. Researchers have been investigating whether granulomatous lobular mastitis can be classified as IgG-SM. A study (38) reports that none of the nine cases of lymphocytic mastitis showed any infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells, while six out of seven cases of granulomatous lobular mastitis had no infiltration of IgG-positive plasma cells. Although the study's sample size was limited and conclusive evidence linking granulomatous mastitis with IgG-related sclerosing mastitis remains elusive, it reveals low levels of IgG expression in both GLM and PCM, with consistent patterns. Furthermore, the expression level varies depending on different combinations involving nipple depression features in GLM patients. These findings suggest distinct clinical subtypes exist between the two conditions and may have different underlying causes. The study suggests that there's a significant difference in expression level between patients having inverted vs. non-inverted nipples, likely due to blockage of milk ducts, damage to skin cells lining the ducts, and immune response from exposure to autoantigens all leading to increased IgG levels. This aligns with the notion of bifurcating GLM into either IgG-correlated or non-IgG-correlated categories. However, no notable association was found between fertility condition, duration since lactation cycle completion & manifestation of IgG among individuals. The GLM can be divided into two categories: IgG-correlated and non-IgG4-correlated. The former is associated with nipple depression, while the latter shows no relation to this condition. It's worth noting that the deficient IgG4 expression in GLM or PCM doesn't satisfy the diagnostic standards for IgG-related conditions and isn't classified as such. Consequently, the IgG expression level cannot serve as a basis for immunosuppressive therapy applications.