Innate response to self-antigen significantly exacerbates burn wound depth

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Mar 6;104(10):3973-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0609026104. Epub 2007 Feb 28.

Abstract

A major component of burn injury is caused by additional local damage from acute inflammation. Using a scald burn model in mice, we find that this part of the injury is dependent on recognition of self-antigen by specific natural IgM, leading to activation of the complement system. We propose that the depth of a burn wound is a sum of the thermal energy applied and of the degree of host inflammatory response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantigens / chemistry*
  • Burns / metabolism*
  • Complement C4 / genetics
  • Complement System Proteins / metabolism*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin M / chemistry
  • Inflammation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Wound Healing*
  • Wound Infection

Substances

  • Autoantigens
  • Complement C4
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Peptides
  • RAG-1 protein
  • Complement System Proteins