title: Macrophages and post-burn immune dysfunction.
abstract: The activation of a pro-inflammatory cascade after burn injury appears to be important in the development of subsequent immune dysfunction, susceptibility to sepsis and multiple organ failure. Macrophages are major producers of pro-inflammatory mediators and their productive capacity for these mediators is markedly enhanced following thermal injury. Thus, macrophage hyperactivity (as defined by increased productive capacity for pro-inflammatory mediators) appears to be of critical importance in the development of post-burn immune dysfunction. This review will focus on the current state of knowledge with regards to the role of macrophages in the development of post-burn immune dysfunction. Particular areas of discussion include: nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme systems, macrophages and the T-helper (Th)-1/Th-2 cytokine responses, alterations in macrophages signal transduction and a potential role for gamma/delta T-cells in the development of macrophage hyperactivity following thermal injury. A more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between macrophage activity and post-burn immune dysfunction will hopefully provide the basis for improved therapeutic regimes in the treatment of burn patients.
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, G094 Volker Hall, 1670 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA. martin.schwacha@ccc.uab.edu
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schwacha
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases