Innate response to self-antigen significantly exacerbates burn wound depth.

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.

SUBMITTER: Suber F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1820693 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature