大鼠烫伤后不同时程侧脑室注射强啡肽A(1—13)抗血清对烫伤休克的影响

近年来的研究工作表明,内源性阿片肽与休克密切相关。在内毒素性休克、低血容量性休克和脊髓损伤性休克时,血浆和脑脊液中内源性阿片肽有不同程度的升高,应用阿片肽受体拮抗剂纳洛酮可对抗休克。我们在烫伤休克的研究中观察到,大鼠烫伤后,某些脑区和血浆中强啡肽A(1-13)[DynA(1-13)]免疫活性物质的含量有显著变化,烫后外周静脉给予DynA(1～13)抗血清,可改善大鼠心血管功能,延长存     

烫伤大鼠早期口服谷氨酰胺对血浆氨基酸代谢的影响

研究烫伤早期口服谷氨酰胺 (GLN)后GLN及其相关氨基酸的代谢变化。以Wistar大鼠为烫伤模型 ,烫伤后早期口服GLN ,并以 83 5-50型氨基酸自动分析仪的生理体液法测定血浆游离氨基酸。结果烫伤后饲标准饲料(C)组血浆GLN在烫伤后 2d和 5d降低 ,与GLN代谢相关的丙氨酸和氨无显著性变化 ;GLN饲料 (G)组各时相点GLN均增加 ,1 0h和 8d增加显著 ,与GLN代谢相关的丙氨酸和血氨增加显著 ;GLN +精氨酸 (G +A)组GLN在 2d降低 ,血氨升高显著。与C组比 ,G和G +A组血浆总氨基酸、支琏氨基酸、GLN、丙氨酸、r-氨基丁酸和氨均较C组高。提示 ,烫伤后早期口服GLN能提高血GLN和与之代谢相关的氨基酸浓度。     

蜂花烧烫伤膏对深Ⅱ度烧伤大鼠TNF-alpha、IL-10 含量的影响*

目的：探究蜂花烧烫膏对深Ⅱ度烧伤大鼠肿瘤坏死因子-alpha(TNF-alpha)、白细胞介素-10 (IL-10)含量的的影响。方法：采用沸水烧 伤的方法,创建大鼠深Ⅱ度烧伤的模型,大鼠分成空白对照组、烧伤复苏组、京万红组和蜂花烧烫伤膏组。并检测烧伤后1、3、6、 12、24、48 h 六个时间点TNF-alpha和IL-10 的含量变化。结果：与空白对照组比较,烧伤复苏组在烧伤后1 h血浆TNF-alpha、IL-10 的含 量明显升高,具有显著统计学意义(P＜0.01),TNF-alpha的含量在12 h达峰值,IL-10 的含量在24 h达峰值,之后逐渐下降,但仍保持 较高水平。蜂花烧烫伤膏组与烧伤复苏组比较,血浆TNF-琢的含量六个时间点明显减少,血浆IL-10 的含量在1,3,6,12 h时间点 变化趋势基本一致,在24,48 h 低于烧伤复苏组,具有显著统计学意义(P＜0.01);与京万红组血浆TNF-alpha、IL-10 的含量对应时间 点趋势基本一致,但含量差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01)。结论：深Ⅱ度烧伤大鼠血浆TNF-alpha、IL-10 含量有明显升高,蜂花烧烫伤膏可 通过降低血浆TNF-alpha和升高IL-10 水平而发挥抗炎作用。     

百草枯中毒大鼠TNF-α、IL-10 的表达及大黄保护作用的研究

目的:观察大黄对急性百草枯中毒大鼠TNF-α、IL-10的干预作用,探讨其可能的作用机制。方法:90只SD大鼠随机分为生理盐水对照组(A组)、PQ(60 mg/kg)灌胃染毒组(B组)、生大黄(300mg/kg.d)干预组(C组),每组30只。中毒后6h、24h、72h分批处死存活的大鼠,并且检测大鼠血浆TNF-α、IL-10水平。结果:B组、C组TNF-α、IL-10水平在染毒后6h开始升高,72h达到高峰,与A组相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05、P<0.01),在相同时间点C组TNF-α和IL-10的表达低于B组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。B组、C组血浆TNF-α、IL-10水平与中毒时间呈显著正性相关关系(r=0.849,P<0.01;r=0.790,P<0.01;r=0.0.943,P<0.01;r=0.892,P<0.01)。结论:大黄能够通过降低百草枯中毒大鼠体内的TNF-α、IL-10水平,减轻百草枯对大鼠的损伤作用。     

间断性低氧对大鼠淋巴细胞转化的影响

目的: 探讨间断性低氧对机体免疫反应的影响.方法: 以模拟海拔高度间断性低氧(4 h/d)模型观察大鼠脾淋巴细胞对丝裂原(Con A)的反应性.结果: 与对照相比,5 km急性低氧4 h大鼠淋巴细胞的转化率下降25.43%(P<0.05) ,间断性低氧2、5、15 d后淋巴细胞转化率分别为97.03%、104.5%和99.55%,与对照组无明显差异.2 km间断性低氧(4 h/d)1、2、5、15 d,大鼠脾淋巴细胞转化率分别为93.19%、96.43%、99.03%和100.54%,与对照组无明显差异.脾单个核细胞DNA含量显示, 5 km急性低氧4 h DNA含量明显下降(76.22%±7.06%,P<0.05),间断性低氧5 d和15 d后与对照组无显著差异.结论: 急性低氧抑制淋巴细胞的转化,并随低氧的加重而增加,重复间断性低氧暴露其抑制作用减弱,引起大鼠淋巴细胞转化产生适应.推测免疫适应与HPA轴的适应有关.     

电针大鼠的血清中淋巴细胞转化抑制因子的作用机制分析

本室以前的工作表明:电针(2H_z,3V,30min/d)刺激 SD 大鼠双侧足三里-三阴交,5d后,大鼠血清中产生出淋巴细胞转化抑制因子,本工作对此抑制因子的作用机制进行了初步研究,主要结果如下:(1)电针大鼠的血清不仅显著抑制 Con A 刺激的小鼠淋巴结 T 淋巴细胞转化,还可显著抑制 Con A 刺激的小鼠胸腺细胞和脾脏 T 淋巴细胞转化;同时也发现电针大鼠的血清能显著抑制脂多糖(LPS)刺激的小鼠淋巴结 B 淋巴细胞转化。提示此淋巴细胞转化抑制因子对不同淋巴器官及不同类型的淋巴细胞无选择性作用。(2)将电针大鼠的血清同小鼠淋巴结细胞培养1h,电针大鼠的血清就可显著抑制 Con A 刺激的 T 淋巴细胞转化;将小鼠淋巴结细胞同 Con A 预培养30min,电针大鼠的血清的抑制作用便消失,提示电针大鼠血清中淋巴细胞转化抑制因子作用于 Con A 刺激 T 淋巴细胞活化的早期阶段,同时也排除了此抑制因子的细胞毒作用。(3)电针大鼠的血清显著抑制蛋白激酶 C(PKC)激活剂 PMA和 PMA 加 ca~(2+)通道 A23187刺激的小鼠淋巴结细胞转化,提示淋巴细胞转化抑制因子通过抑制 PKC 的活性或抑制 PKC 介导的细胞活化通路,抑制有丝分裂原刺激的淋巴细胞转化。     

清胰汤对大鼠急性坏死性胰腺炎IL-6,IL-10 及肠道通透性影响

目的:探讨清胰汤改善大鼠急性坏死性胰腺炎(acute necrotizing pancreatitis)ANP炎症反应及肠道通透性功能的治疗效果及机制。方法:将72只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组,其中2组大鼠采用从胰腺被膜下多点缓慢均匀注入3.8%牛黄胆酸钠(0.5ml/100g)建立大鼠急性坏死性胰腺炎模型,再分为急性坏死性胰腺炎常规治疗组(A组)、清胰汤干预治疗组(B组),其他24只大鼠为假手术组(S组),每组再随机分为24h、48h、72h组。各组于12h后给于肠内营养,B组肠内营养后给于2次清胰汤2.5ml/100g,A组、S组给于同等剂量生理盐水。各组于建模后24h、48h、72h处死,腹腔动脉取血检测血清淀粉酶浓度、IL-6、IL-10、D-乳酸水平。结果:48h时点B组IL-10水平较A组高(P<0.05);72时点B组血清淀粉酶水平较A组低(P<0.01),IL-6水平较A组低(P<0.01),IL-10水平较A组高(P<0.01),D-乳酸水平较A组低(P<0.01)。结论:清胰汤可以上调IL-10改善大鼠急性胰腺炎炎症反应从而降低肠道通透性。     

蜜环菌多糖对小鼠血清IL-2和TGF-β1水平的影响

目的:观察蜜环茵多糖对小鼠血清中IL-2和TGF-β1水平的干预作用。方法:实验组小鼠腹腔注射(i.p)不同浓度的蛮环菌多糖,阴性对照组给予生理盐水,阳性对照组给予香菇多糖,连续给药14天。给药结束后,用形态学方法测定各组小鼠在植物血凝素(PHA)诱导下淋巴细胞转化率,用ELISA法测定各组小鼠血清中白介素2(IL-2)、转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)水平。结果:蜜环菌多糖具有提高小鼠淋巴细胞转化率,增加血清中IL-2水平,并同时下调血清中TGF-β1水平的作用。结论:蜜环菌多糖可通过调节小鼠免疫细胞及免疫分子的作用,增强小鼠的免疫功能。     

参麦注射液对严重烫伤大鼠肠道屏障功能的保护作用

目的:探索参麦注射液对30% Ⅲ°烫伤早期肠道屏障功能的保护作用,为参麦注射液防治肠源性感染提供实验依据。方法:Wistar大鼠60只,随机分为正常对照组、模型对照组,地塞米松5 mg/kg组、参麦注射液5、10、15 mg/kg组,每组10只,使用烫伤仪建立30% Ⅲ°烫伤动物模型,立即腹腔注射相应的药物,每天1次。烫伤72 h后,检测肝脏、脾脏、肠系膜淋巴结细菌移位量、血浆内毒素、二胺氧化酶(DAO)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平和肠粘膜分泌型免疫球蛋白A(sIgA)的水平。结果:与正常对照组比较,模型组肝脏、脾脏、肠系膜淋巴结细菌移位量,血浆内毒素、DAO、TNF-α及 IL-6和肠黏膜sIgA水平明显升高(P＜0.01);与模型组比较,地塞米松组和参麦注射液5、10、15 mg/kg组肝脏、脾脏、肠系膜淋巴结细菌移位量,血浆内毒素、DAO、TNF-α及 IL-6和肠黏膜sIgA水平明显降低(P＜0.05或P＜0.01)。结论:参麦注射液可减轻严重烫伤引起的肠粘膜损伤,效果与地塞米松相当,高剂量组效果更好。     

青春双歧杆菌对2型糖尿病模型大鼠免疫功能和肾脏的影响

目的通过观察青春双歧杆菌对2型糖尿病模型大鼠血清中细胞因子IL-2、IL-6和IFN-γ活性的影响,以及血清及尿中的NO与ET-1的变化,探讨青春双歧杆菌对2型糖尿病模型免疫功能和肾脏的影响。方法采用青春双歧杆菌灌胃2型糖尿病模型大鼠,取血液和尿液,ELISA法检测细胞因子IL-2、IL-4、IL-6、IFN-γ和ET-1活性,硝酸酶还原法测定NO水平。结果青春双歧杆菌提高IL-2、IL-4水平,降低IL-6、IFN-γ和ET-1活性,NO水平在病程中动态变化。结论青春双歧杆菌具有平衡2型糖尿病模型大鼠免疫功能,抑制ET-1,调节NO水平的作用,从而预防肾小球硬化的发生。     

IL-15 Superagonist Expands mCD8+ T,NK and NKT Cells after Burn Injury but Fails to Improve Outcome during Burn Wound Infection

Background

Severely burned patients are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections and sepsis, owing to the loss of the protective skin barrier and immunological dysfunction. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) belongs to the IL-2 family of common gamma chain cytokines and stimulates the proliferation and activation of T (specifically memory CD8), NK and NKT cells. It has been shown to preserve T cell function and improve survival during cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in mice. However, the therapeutic efficacy of IL-15 or IL-15 superagonist (SA) during infection after burn injury has not been evaluated. Moreover, very few, if any, studies have examined, in detail, the effect of burn injury and infection on the adaptive immune system. Thus, we examined the effect of burn and sepsis on adaptive immune cell populations and the effect of IL-15 SA treatment on the host response to infection.

Methods

Mice were subjected to a 35% total body surface area burn, followed by wound infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In some experiments, IL-15 SA was administered after burn injury, but before infection. Leukocytes in spleen, liver and peritoneal cavity were characterized using flow cytometry. Bacterial clearance, organ injury and survival were also assessed.

Results

Burn wound infection led to a significant decline in total white blood cell and lymphocyte counts and induced organ injury and sepsis. Burn injury caused decline in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen, which was worsened by infection. IL-15 treatment inhibited this decline and significantly increased cell numbers and activation, as determined by CD69 expression, of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, B, NK and NKT cells in the spleen and liver after burn injury. However, IL-15 SA treatment failed to prevent burn wound sepsis-induced loss of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, B, NK and NKT cells and failed to improve bacterial clearance and survival.

Conclusion

Cutaneous burn injury and infection cause significant adaptive immune dysfunction. IL-15 SA does not augment host resistance to burn wound sepsis in mice despite inducing proliferation and activation of lymphocyte subsets.     

Corticosterone suppresses mesenteric lymph node T cells by inhibiting p38/ERK pathway and promotes bacterial translocation after alcohol and burn injury

Previous studies showed that alcohol (EtOH) intoxication before burn injury suppresses mesenteric lymph node (MLN) T cell functions and increases gut bacterial translocation. In this study, we examined whether corticosterone (Cort) plays any role in suppressing MLN T cell function and bacterial accumulation after EtOH intoxication and burn injury. Rats were gavaged with EtOH to achieve a blood EtOH level of approximately 100 mg/dl before receiving 25% total body surface area burn or sham injury. A group of rats was treated with the Cort synthesis inhibitor metyrapone (25 mg/kg) at the time of injury and on day 1 after injury. Two days after injury, a significant increase in blood Cort levels and suppression of MLN T cell proliferation and IL-2 production was observed in rats receiving combined insult of EtOH intoxication and burn injury compared with rats receiving EtOH intoxication or burn injury alone. There was no change in T cell apoptosis after combined insult of EtOH and burn injury. Furthermore, T cell suppression was accompanied by a significant decrease in p38 and ERK1/2 activation (phosphorylation). There was no difference in JNK activation after EtOH and burn injury. Treatment of rats with metyrapone prevented the suppression of MLN T cell proliferation, IL-2 production, and p38 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Restoration of T cell function in metyrapone-treated animals was also associated with the decrease in bacterial accumulation in MLN. These findings suggest that EtOH intoxication before burn injury augments Cort release, which suppresses MLN T cell function by inhibiting p38 and ERK1/2 activation and promotes bacterial accumulation in MLN after EtOH and burn injury.     

Interleukin-6, TNF-alpha and interleukin-1 beta levels in blood and tissue in severely burned rats

Previous studies have demonstrated the early appearance of inflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation after thermal injury both in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of several cytokines, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in serum, lung, liver and brain of severely burned rats during the first week after thermal injury. Cytokine measurements were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The comparison between the sham-burned animals and animals with third-degree burns on 20% or 40% of their total body surface area allowed for the study of the inflammatory process relative to the size of the injury. Serum IL-6 levels, which were undetectable in sham-treated animals, peaked during the first hours after injury and were proportionate to the size of the area burned. After a few days, IL-6 increased once more, but only in the most severely burned rats. In lung, liver and brain, low but measurable basal levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 were detected in sham-burned animals. Strikingly, IL-1beta levels remained significantly elevated in the lung after injury in animals having 20% and 40% burned skin area. Unexpectedly, both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production decreased gradually in liver and brain after burn injury. Also, the inflammatory response after a burn injury appeared to be biphasic. The first period corresponded to the early release of IL-6 into the circulation, proportional to the severity of the injury. After a few days, a second period was marked by the extension of the inflammatory processes from the injured area to the rest of the body, particularly to lung, which could be considered as at potential risk of involvement in severely burned patients.     

Improved immune functions with administration of a low-fat diet in a burn animal model

The purpose of this study was to characterize the impact of a low-fat (LF; 1% fat) diet, a high-fat (HF; 25% fat) diet, and a standard (SD; 5% fat) diet on immune and oxidative parameters in a 20% body surface area burn animal model fed ad libitum for 10 days postinjury. Although the mechanisms are poorly understood, the amount of dietary lipid in nutritional support has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects after burn injury. Burned mice fed the LF diet showed a normal response in activated splenocyte proliferation compared to burned animals that received the SD or HF diet. Animals fed the SD and HF diets presented increased production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 response after burn injury, which is associated with inhibited splenocyte proliferation. The total thiol concentration in spleen cells from burned animals kept on the HF diet was significantly higher than that in unburned animals, while no increase in these oxidative parameters was observed in LF-fed burned animals. Moreover, the LF diet significantly reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation, as measured by malonaldehyde concentration, compared to the other two diets. These results suggest that the administration of a LF diet in mice after a burn injury prevents inhibition of in vitro splenocyte proliferation and reduces the intensity of oxidative stress.     

Early evolution of selenium status and oxidative stress parameters in rat models of thermal injury

The objective of the present study was to measure the relationship between selenium status and oxidative stress in two rat models of thermal injury. A non-lethal third-degree burn injury involving 20% (experiment 1) or 40% (experiment 2) of total body surface area (TBSA) was applied to male Wistar rats. Selenium level, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in plasma, red blood cells (RBC) and tissues (liver, kidney, muscle, and brain), and plasma selenoalbumin (Se-alb) were measured in control rats and in burned rats respectively 6 hours after injury and daily from day 1 to day 5. In parallel, lipid and protein oxidative damages, monitored by plasma and tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARs) levels and plasma total thiol groups were assessed.

We observed a decrease of plasma Se and Se-albumin 6 hours after burn injury. In parallel, plasma GPx activity rapidly decreased and remained significantly lower than in control rats. These alterations were enhanced by the burn injury severity. Plasma TBARs followed the same pattern as that of plasma cholesterol, with an initial decrease and an increase at day 3 in 40% TBSA burned rats. Plasma thiol groups decreased in the two experiments indicating plasma protein oxidation.

These results confirm an early oxidative stress in burn injury, and suggest an early selenium mobilization, which might counteract this oxidative stress. These data underline the crucial need of a restored selenium status in burned patients immediately after the burn injury.     

Functional characterization of cultured keratinocytes after acute cutaneous burn injury

Background

In addition to forming the epithelial barrier against the outside environment keratinocytes are immunologically active cells. In the treatment of severely burned skin, cryoconserved keratinocyte allografts gain in importance. It has been proposed that these allografts accelerate wound healing also due to the expression of a favourable - keratinocyte-derived - cytokine and growth factor milieu.

Methods

In this study the morphology and cytokine expression profile of keratinocytes from skin after acute burn injury was compared to non-burned skin. Skin samples were obtained from patients after severe burn injury and healthy controls. Cells were cultured and secretion of selected inflammatory mediators was quantified using Bioplex Immunoassays. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyse further functional and morphologic parameters.

Results

Histology revealed increased terminal differentiation of keratinocytes (CK10, CK11) in allografts from non-burned skin compared to a higher portion of proliferative cells (CK5, vimentin) in acute burn injury. Increased levels of IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNFα could be detected in culture media of burn injury skin cultures. Both culture groups contained large amounts of IL-1RA. IL-6 and GM-CSF were increased during the first 15 days of culture of burned skin compared to control skin. Levels of VEGF, FGF-basic, TGF-ß und G-CSF were high in both but not significantly different. Cryoconservation led to a diminished mediator synthesis except for higher levels of intracellular IL-1α and IL-1ß.

Conclusion

Skin allografts from non-burned skin show a different secretion pattern of keratinocyte-derived cytokines and inflammatory mediators compared to keratinocytes after burn injury. As these secreted molecules exert auto- and paracrine effects and subsequently contribute to healing and barrier restoration after acute burn injury therapies affecting this specific cytokine/growth factor micromilieu could be beneficial in burned patients.     

IFN-gamma production from liver mononuclear cells of mice in burn injury as well as in postburn bacterial infection models and the therapeutic effect of IL-18

Hosts after severe burn injury are known to have a defect in the Th1 immune response and are susceptible to bacterial infections. We herein show that liver NK cells are potent IFN-gamma producers early after burn injury. However, when mice were injected with LPS 24 h after burn injury, IFN-gamma production from liver mononuclear cells (MNC; which we previously showed to be NK cells) was suppressed, and the serum IFN-gamma concentration did not increase, while serum IL-10 conversely increased compared with control mice. Interestingly, a single injection of IL-18 simultaneously with LPS greatly restored the serum IFN-gamma concentration in mice with burn injury and also increased IFN-gamma production from liver MNC. Nevertheless, a single IL-18 injection into mice simultaneously with LPS was no longer effective in the restoration of serum IFN-gamma and IFN-gamma production from the liver MNC at 7 days after burn injury, when mice were considered to be the most immunocompromised. However, IL-18 injections into mice on alternate days beginning 1 day after burn injury strongly up-regulated LPS-induced serum IFN-gamma levels and IFN-gamma production from liver and spleen MNC of mice 7 days after burn injury and down-regulated serum IL-10. Furthermore, similar IL-18 therapy up-regulated serum IFN-gamma levels in mice with experimental bacterial peritonitis 7 days after burn injury and greatly decreased mouse mortality. Thus, IL-18 therapy restores the Th1 response and may decrease the susceptibility to bacterial infection in mice with burn injury.     

The role of interleukin 6 in interferon-gamma production in thermally injured mice

Following traumatic injury, patients suffer from compromised immunity increasing their susceptibility to infection. Previous studies from this laboratory demonstrated that female BALB/c mice subjected to a 15% total body surface area (TBSA) scald injury exhibit a decrease in cell-mediated immunity 10 days post-burn. Studies described herein revealed that concanavalin A (Con A; 2 microg/ml)-stimulated splenocytes from sham treated animals produced 3557+/-853 pg/ml of IFN-gamma while splenocytes from burn injured animals released two-fold more cytokine (P<0.05). To determine whether leukocyte production of IFN-gamma was under the influence of macrophages, splenic macrophage supernatants generated from burned animals were incubated with splenic lymphocytes from sham and burn animals. The amount of IFN-gamma released by lymphocytes from sham animals increased when cultured with macrophages from burned mice (P<0.05). This suggests that the increase in IFN-gamma production by unfractionated splenocytes in burned mice relative to sham treated animals is macrophage-dependent. Macrophage supernatants from burned mice released twice as much IL-6 as supernatants from sham animals (P<0.05), and when IL-6 was blocked in vivo, the amount of IFN-gamma production in burned mice decreased to sham levels (P<0.05). Thus, IL-6 mediates IFN-gamma production following burn.     

Differential expression and tissue compartmentalization of the inflammatory response following thermal injury

Studies have shown that both animal tissue-fixed immune cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) functions are altered after burn injury. Additional studies suggest that the burn injury-induced alterations in these divergent cell populations from different species are similar. It remains unknown, however, whether the observed changes in animal tissue-fixed immune cell function following thermal injury also occurs to a similar extent in the PBMC population. The aim of our study was to compare PBMC and tissue-fixed immune cell functions from the same animal using a murine burn model. At 7 days post-burn, mice were more susceptible to sepsis and delayed type hypersensitivity responses were suppressed. Splenocytes isolated from injured mice displayed suppressed proliferation and increased IL-10 production. In contrast, PBMC from injured mice displayed suppressed proliferation, IL-2 and IFN-gamma production. Splenic macrophage nitric oxide, PGE(2), TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 production was enhanced post-burn and IL-12 production was suppressed. PBMC from such animals displayed enhanced PGE(2) production and suppressed IL-6 and IL-12 production. These results indicate that while an immunosuppressive Th(2) phenotype (increased IL-10 and/or suppressed IL-2, IFN-gamma) was induced in both the splenic and PBMC compartments post-injury, differential expression and dimorphism in the response also exists. Thus, the assessment of only PBMC function in burn patients may not accurately reflect the patient's actual immune status at the tissue level.     

Restoration of natural IgM production from liver B cells by exogenous IL-18 improves the survival of burn-injured mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common bacterium of postburn infection. In the present study we investigated the immune mechanism of susceptibility to this type of postburn infection and also examined the efficacy of IL-18 treatment. C57BL/6 mice were challenged with P. aeruginosa on day 7 after burn injury. Although the burn-injured mice showed a poor survival rate after bacterial challenge, they retained their IFN-gamma production. The burned mice showed lower serum IgM levels and a poor IgM response following P. aeruginosa challenge in comparison with the sham mice, whereas IL-18 treatment after burn injury (alternate day injections for 1 wk) greatly improved the serum IgM levels, which are P. aeruginosa-independent natural IgM before bacterial challenge, thereby increasing the survival rate after the challenge. IL-18 treatment also induced specific IgM to P. aeruginosa in the sera 5 days after bacterial challenge in the burned mice. Interestingly, CD43(+)CD5(-)CD23(-)B220(dim) cells, namely B-1b cells, increased in the liver after the IL-18 treatment and were found to actively produce IgM in vitro without any additional stimulation. Furthermore, the IL-18 treatment up-regulated the neutrophil count and the C3a levels in the blood as a result of the increased IgM level, which may thus play a critical role in the opsonization and elimination of any invading bacteria. IL-18 treatment for the burned mice and their resultant natural IgM production were thus found to strengthen the host defense against P. aeruginosa infection.