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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
Insulinlike growth factor I plus insulinlike growth factor binding protein 3 attenuates the proinflammatory acute
M G Jeschke1, R E Barrow, D N Herndon
1Shriners Hospital for Children and the Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550, USA.
Insights
Insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) with IGFBP-3 reduced harmful inflammation in severely burned children. This treatment increased beneficial proteins and decreased inflammatory markers, potentially improving outcomes after severe burns.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Metabolic Response to Injury
Background:
- The hepatic acute phase response is crucial for homeostasis after trauma.
- Prolonged acute phase response can lead to organ failure and mortality.
- Understanding modulators of this response is vital for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) combined with IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) on the hepatic acute phase response in severely burned children.
- To assess the effects of IGF-I/BP-3 on serum protein levels and proinflammatory cytokines.
Main Methods:
- A continuous infusion of IGF-I/BP-3 was administered to 22 severely burned children (mean TBSA burn 57%).
- Eight control children received saline.
- Serum samples were analyzed for constitutive hepatic proteins, acute phase proteins, and cytokines before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- IGF-I/BP-3 administration significantly increased serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels.
- Constitutive hepatic proteins (prealbumin, RBP, transferrin) increased, while type I acute phase proteins (CRP, AAG, C3) decreased.
- Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta) decreased, with no change in IL-6.
Conclusions:
- IGF-I/BP-3 treatment in severely burned children reduced IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, followed by a decrease in type I acute phase proteins.
- This was associated with an increase in beneficial constitutive hepatic proteins.
- Modulating the acute phase response with IGF-I/BP-3 may prevent organ failure and improve outcomes in thermal injury.
Objective:
To determine the effect of insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) in combination with its principal binding protein (IGFBP-3) on the hepatic acute phase response in severely burned children.
Summary Background Data:
The hepatic acute phase response is a cascade of events initiated to restore homeostasis after trauma. A prolonged response, however, may contribute to multiple organ failure, hypermetabolism, complications, and death.
Methods:
Twenty-two children with a mean total body surface area (TBSA) burn of 57 +/- 3% were given a continuous infusion of 1 to 4 mg/kg/day IGF-I/BP-3 for 5 days after wound excision and grafting. Eight children with a TBSA burn of 54 +/- 4% were given saline as controls. Before and 5 days after excision and grafting, blood samples were taken for serum hepatic constitutive protein, acute phase protein, and proinflammatory cytokine analysis.
Results:
Serum IGF-I levels in burned children given the IGF-I/BP-3 complex increased from 113 +/- 15 to 458 +/- 40 ng/mL and IGFBP-3 levels increased from 1.8 +/- 0.2 to 3.1 +/- 0.3 ng/mL. Levels of serum constitutive hepatic proteins (prealbumin, retinol-binding protein, and transferrin) increased with IGF-I/BP-3, whereas levels of type I acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, and complement C-3) decreased when compared with controls. The complex had no effect on type II acute phase proteins. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels decreased with IGF-I/BP-3 compared with controls, with no effect on interleukin-6.
Conclusion:
Severely burned children receiving IGF-I/BP-3 showed a decrease in IL-1beta and TNF-alpha followed by a decrease in type I acute phase proteins that was associated with a concomitant increase in constitutive hepatic proteins. Attenuating the proinflammatory acute phase with IGF-1/BP-3 response may prevent multiple organ failure and improve clinical outcomes after thermal injury without any detectable adverse side effects.
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