Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
[Changes of PMN apoptosis in rabbits after burn]
1Department of Burns, Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410078.
Objectives:
To study the dynamic changes of apoptosis of PMN from rabbits in the early stage after severe burn in vivo and investigate the effect of burn serum and wound exudate on PMN apoptosis in vitro.
Methods:
12 rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (37 degrees C) and burn group (95 degrees C, 15 sec, III degrees 30% TBSA). Whole blood from the burn group at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 h postburn was stained with acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO + EB), and observed under UV microscopy. PMNs were isolated from both groups and cultured for 24 h (37 degrees C, 5% CO(2)) with normal serum (NS), burn serum (BS), and subeschar tissue fluid (STF) respectively. Morphological assessment and quantitation of apoptosis were performed with AO + EB stain and flow cytometric analysis.
Results:
The number of apoptotic PMN in vivo decreased in the early stage postburn. In the BS + PMN group and STF + PMN group, the percentage of apoptotic PMN reduced (vs NS + PMN group, P < 0.05) and the specific DNA "ladder" pattern for apoptotic cells was not detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. We observed that both burn serum and STF could similarly suppressed PMN apoptosis while there was no significant difference between NS + normal PMN group and NS + burn PMN group.
Conclusions:
Apoptosis is inhibited in PMN from rabbits postburn in the early stage. Both burn serum and STF from rabbits postburn can inhibit PMN apoptosis in vitro.
Insights
Severe burns inhibit polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) apoptosis in rabbits. Burn serum and wound exudate suppress PMN apoptosis, impacting early burn responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Burn Medicine
Context:
- Severe burns trigger complex physiological responses.
- Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) play a critical role in the inflammatory response to burns.
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a crucial regulatory mechanism for immune cells.
Purpose:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in PMN apoptosis in rabbits during the early stages following severe burns.
- To examine the in vitro effects of burn serum and subeschar tissue fluid (STF) on PMN apoptosis.
Summary:
- In vivo studies showed a decrease in PMN apoptosis in rabbits during the early post-burn period.
- In vitro experiments demonstrated that both burn serum (BS) and STF significantly inhibited PMN apoptosis compared to normal serum (NS).
- Agarose gel electrophoresis did not detect the DNA ladder pattern indicative of apoptosis in PMNs exposed to BS or STF.
Impact:
- These findings indicate that PMN apoptosis is suppressed in the early phase after severe burns.
- Burn serum and wound exudate possess inhibitory effects on PMN apoptosis, suggesting a role in modulating the inflammatory response.
- Understanding these mechanisms could inform therapeutic strategies for managing burn-induced inflammation and improving patient outcomes.
