Thermal injury induces expression of CD14 in human skin.
BACKGROUND
Skin is equipped with an array of immune mediators aimed at fighting invading microbes. CD14 has been shown to play a key role in modulating the activation of cells by LPS. Since LPS levels within burn wounds are often found to be elevated, we sought to examine the expression of CD14 within human skin following thermal injury.


METHODS
Patients who sustained partial thickness burns, were recruited into the study (n=57). Total RNA was isolated from both burn and normal (control) skin. Northern blot analysis and TaqMan RT-PCR were used to determine skin CD14 mRNA levels. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize CD14 expression in burned and normal skin.


RESULTS
Quantitative PCR showed significantly increased CD14 expression levels in the immediate post-burn period (P<0.05 burn versus non-burn). Immunohistochemistry revealed more pronounced CD14 staining 24 h after the injury, reaching normal levels approximately 5-7 days post-burn.


CONCLUSIONS
CD14 expression peaks within the first week post-burn before declining, reaching normal levels after 14 days. This loss of supranormal CD14 expression locally within the wound may contribute to a weakened host defense response 5-6 days after injury, when patients become especially vulnerable to infection.
Steinstraesser
Lars
L
Department of Trauma Burn Surgery, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA. lars.steinstraesser@ruhr-university-bochum.de
Alarcon
William
W
Fan
Ming-Hui
MH
Klein
Richard D
RD
Aminlari
Alireza
A
Zuccaro
Cynthia
C
Su
Grace L
GL
Wang
Stewart C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002056:Burns / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger