title: Burn induces a Th-17 inflammatory response at the injury site.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high incidence of morbidity and mortality following major burn can be in part attributed to immune dysfunction and wound healing complications. Inflammation plays a major role in the complex process of wound repair. Recently, a novel class of T-helper cells, termed Th-17 cells, has been found to secrete the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-22. The Th-17 response also involves other cytokines, such as IL-6 and TGF-β, which have been shown to be associated with burn-induced inflammation. Nonetheless, the relationships between the Th-17 response and post-burn inflammation are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6 male mice (n = 5-6/group) were subjected to a major burn (25% TBSA) or sham procedure. Three hours thereafter, skin samples were collected (uninjured skin and burn skin) and processed for the determination of Th-17 cytokine (IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, IL-27, and TGF-β) levels by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3h after burn a significant (~3-fold) increase in tissue levels of IL-17 and IL-22 was observed at the burn site as compared to sham skin. The burn-induced Th-17 response was independent of statistically significant changes in other Th-17 cytokines (i.e., IL-6, IL-23, IL-27 and TGF-β).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate the development of a robust Th-17 response at the burn site that may play an important role in subsequent immune and wound healing derangements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schwacha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta