Influence of severe burn injury on the expression of RM 3/1 and HLA-DR antigens in human blood monocytes

Abstract

The effect of severe burns on the expression of the glucocorticoid-inducible RM 3/1 and HLA-DR antigens in blood monocytes was studied in patients with less than or more than 50% total body surface area (TBSA) burned. All patients showed a strong increase in the portion of RM 3/1+ monocytes within 1 day after injury. In patients with more than 50% TBSA, RM 3/1+ cells decreased after 2 days; in those with less than 50% TBSA, cells decreased after 3 days HLA-DR+ monocytes decreased within 4 days in both groups. In patients with less than 50% TBSA, HLA-DR+ monocytes slowly increased thereafter to basic levels. In patients with more than 50% TBSA, HLA-DR+ monocytes further decreased, then slowly increased, however, did not reach basic levels. This long-lasting decrease was evidence in the nonsurvivors. These results show that severe burns differently affect monocyte antigens. The induction of the anti-inflammatory subtype RM 3/1 and the decrease of the immunoregulatory HLA-DR antigens may contribute to the immunosuppression observed after burn injury.