[Changes in plasma high mobility group box-1 protein levels and its relationship with sepsis in severely burned patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the significance of changes in plasma high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels and its relationship with sepsis and endotojemia in severely burned patients.


METHODS
Totally 25 large area burned patients ( > 30% total body surface area) were included in this study, and 8 healthy volunteers served as normal controls. The plasma levels of HMGB1 were measured by ELISA, and endotoxin concentrations was determined by the modified chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay on posthurn days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28.


RESULTS
The plasma HMGBL levels were markedly elevated on postburn day 1 in severely burned patients, and they were significantly higher in septic patients than those without sepsis on days 7, 21, and 28 after burns (P<0.05). Among septic patients, plasma HMGBI levels in the survival group were significantly lower than those with fatal outcome on days 3 and 21 (P<0.05, P<0.01). No significant correlations were found between HMGB1 levels and the sizes of total body surface area (P>0.05). In addition, the plasma HMGB1 levels were positively correlated with endotoxin concentrations on days 3, 5, 7, 21 after major burns (P<0.05, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HMGB1, as an important late mediators of inflammation, may be involved in the development of sepsis following extensive burns, and it can be markedly induced by endotoxemia secondary to acute insults. Dynamic measurements of circulating HMGB1 levels should be helpful to monitor the disease course and judge the prognosis of burned patients.
Dong
Ning
N
Department of Basic Research, Burns Institute, First Hospital Affiliated to the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100037, China.
Yao
Yong-ming
YM
Yu
Yan
Y
Gu
Chun-yu
CY
Lei
Shu-hong
SH
Sheng
Zhi-yong
ZY
D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*
D004731:Endotoxins; D024243:HMGB1 Protein