title: Correlation between circulating proteasome activity, total protein and c-reactive protein levels following burn in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize burn-induced changes following burn in children by analyzing circulating proteasome (c-proteasome) activity in the plasma in correlation with total protein and c-reactive protein levels in the plasma, and the severity of the burn.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive children scalded by hot water who were managed at the Department of Pediatric Surgery after primarily presenting with burns in 4-20% TBSA were included into the study. The children were aged 9 months up to 14 years (mean age 2.5±1 years). Patients were divided into groups according to the pediatric injury severity score used by American Burns Association. Plasma proteasome activity was assessed using Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-AMC peptide substrate, 2-6 h, 12-16 h, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after injury. 20 healthy children consecutively admitted for planned inguinal hernia repair served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant elevation of plasma c-proteasome activity was noted in all groups of burned children 12-16 h after the injury. We found a strong negative correlation of c-proteasome activity with total protein levels, and positive correlation with CRP levels 12-16 h after burn. We also found stronger correlation between c-proteasome activity and severity of burn, than CRP level and severity of burn 12-16 h, and 3 days after the burn. Correlations were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study characterized circulating 20S proteasome activity levels after burn. C-proteasome activity elevate after burn and correlate negatively with plasma total protein level, thus plasma 20S proteasome activity could be additional biomarker of tissue damage in burn in pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: ewamat@tlen.pl.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matuszczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tylicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dębek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hermanowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ostrowska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
keywords: 20S proteasome activity; Burns; C-reactive; Children; Correlation; Plasma; Protein; Total protein