Downregulation of immune signaling genes in patients with large surface burn injury

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the temporal pattern of expression of important immune signaling genes in patients with varied TBSA burn injury during the first week after burn. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell fractions were collected from each patient (N = 10) at two time points, one immediately following burn injury, and the other 1 week later. The change in gene expression was correlated with all clinical data including burn size. It was found that gene expression was indirectly proportional with burn size. Smaller burns (<30%) TBSA resulted in an up-regulation of several genes measured, while larger burns (>30%) TBSA resulted in significant down-regulation. In conclusion, a larger burn establishes conditions for severe immunosuppression by down-regulating key immune signaling genes and could be one explanation for the increased susceptibility of major burns to infection. These data shed light on the etiology of burn-induced immune dysfunction in humans and support a more comprehensive genomic profile study in burn patients.