title: Beneficial effects of hydrogen-rich saline on early burn-wound progression in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deep burn wounds undergo a dynamic process known as wound progression that results in a deepening and extension of the initial burn area. The zone of stasis is more likely to develop more severe during wound progression in the presence of hypoperfusion. Hydrogen has been reported to alleviate injury triggered by ischaemia/reperfusion and burns in various organs by selectively quenching oxygen free radicals. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of hydrogen against early burn-wound progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Deep-burn models were established through contact with a boiled, rectangular, brass comb for 20 s. Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, burn plus saline, and burn plus hydrogen-rich saline (HS) groups with sacrifice and analysis at various time windows (6 h, 24 h, 48 h) post burn. Indexes of oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy were measured in each group. The zone of stasis was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining, ELISA, and Western blot to explore the underlying effects and mechanisms post burn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The burn-induced increase in malondialdehyde was markedly reduced with HS, while the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased. Moreover, HS treatment attenuated increases in apoptosis and autophagy postburn in wounds, according to the TUNEL staining results and the expression analysis of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, Beclin-1 and Atg-5 proteins. Additionally, HS lowered the level of myeloperoxidase and expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the zone of stasis while augmenting IL-10. The elevated levels of Akt phosphorylation and NF-κB p65 expression post burn were also downregulated by HS management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hydrogen can attenuate early wound progression following deep burn injury. The beneficial effect of hydrogen was mediated by attenuating oxidative stress, which inhibited apoptosis and inflammation, and the Akt/NF-κB signalling pathway may be involved in regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines.
authors: Department of Burns, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Song Xue
authors: SX
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Burns, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Yun Yun
authors: YY
authors: Jin
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Binjiang Branch, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Quan
authors: Q
authors: Fang
authors: Department of Burns, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Chuan Gang
authors: CG
authors: You
authors: Department of Burns, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Xin Gang
authors: XG
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Binjiang Branch, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Xin Lei
authors: XL
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Burns, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors: Chun-Mao
authors: CM
authors: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006859:Hydrogen