title: Increased hyaluronan flux from skin following burn injury.
abstract: Hyaluronan (formerly hyaluronic acid) is an important constituent of the interstitial matrix in skin. Following major burn injury in animal models, plasma hyaluronan can increase to levels 10-fold greater than normal. The present experiments were designed to determine whether this is a result of the increased lymph flow (QL) accompanying the injury or of an increased release of hyaluronan from the burned skin and subcutaneous tissue. The lateral saphenous vein and a prenodal lymphatic were cannulated in the hindpaw of five anesthetized canines. Hindpaw venous pressure was elevated until the total protein concentration in lymph declined to steady-state levels, and QL and hyaluronan flux (QL X [hyaluronan]) was measured. A minor burn was inflicted by immersion of the paw into 100 degrees C water for five sec, and measurements were repeated at regular intervals for a minimum of 4 hr. Burn injury resulted in significant and persistent increases in QL (154 +/- 61 microliters/min versus 562 +/- 105 microliters/min 4 hr postburn) and lymph total protein concentration (1.34 +/- 0.04 g/dl versus 4.08 +/- 0.18 g/dl 4 hr postburn), while lymph hyaluronan concentration fell (3.01 +/- 0.20 micrograms/ml versus 2.1 +/- 0.16 micrograms/ml 4 hr postburn). The resultant increase in hyaluronan flux (0.42 +/- 0.13 microgram/min versus 1.17 +/- 0.22 microgram/min 4 hr postburn) appears to be a function of lymph flow rather than burn-induced release of skin hyaluronan. Hence, the increased plasma concentration of hyaluronan following major burns is likely a consequence of increased lymph flow from the site of injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of South Alabama, Mobile 36688.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dyess
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Townsley
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onarheim
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008196:Lymph / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid