Cytokine Expression Profile Over Time in Severely Burned Pediatric Patients

A severe burn leads to hypermetabolism and catabolism resulting in compromised function and structure of essential organs. The massive release of cytokines is implicated in this hypermetabolic response. The aim of the present study was to compare cytokine expression profiles from severely burned children without signs of infections or inhalation injury (n = 19) to the cytokine profiles from normal, noninfected, nonburned children (n = 14). The Bio-Plex suspension array system was used to measure the concentration of 17 cytokines. The expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was maximal during the first week after thermal injury. Significant increases were measured for 15 mediators during the first week after thermal injury: interleukin (IL) 1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IL-17, interferon gamma, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (P < 0.05). Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was significantly increased during the second week after burn (P < 0.05). Within 5 weeks, the serum concentrations of most cytokines decreased, approaching normal levels. When compared with the cytokine levels measured in normal children, a total of 16 cytokines were significantly altered (P < 0.05). After severe burn, a specific cytokine expression profile is observed in patients without complications such as inhalation injury or sepsis. The cytokine concentrations decrease during 5 weeks after burn but remain elevated over nonburned values. Furthermore, the elevation in most serum cytokine levels during the first week after burn may indicate a potential window of opportunity for therapeutic intervention.