Background
Burn injury initiates changes in the immune function that result in local and systemic inflammation that can lead to life-threatening end-organ dysfunction. Cardiac dysfunction after burn has been well described and has been shown to play an important role in patient outcome [
1]. Several studies have been conducted to explain the pathways involved in myocardial dysfunction after burn since the early studies of Blalock in the 1930's [
2]. Excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6 IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) have been associated with the cardiac cell damage [
3]. Studies have shown differences in the cytokine expression profile in severely burned patients and in the magnitude of the systemic and compartmental inflammatory response correlated with progressive left ventricular contraction and relaxation defects, achieving a nadir with 40% of TBSA burn [
3,
4]. While studies have implicated cardiomyocytes as a cellular source of pro-inflammatory cytokines after burn, other cell populations are also clearly important [
5,
6].
Recently a novel class of T-helper cells, called Th-17 cells, has been found to secrete the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 [
7]. This recently discovered cytokine appears to play an important role in inflammation and autoimmunity. Moreover, in addition to IL-17, other cytokines such as IL-6 and TGF-β, normally associated with inflammation, are also associated with Th-17 cells. In this regard, the Th-17 response has been recently implicated in the response to several models of infection [
8]. This suggests that the Th-17 response may be important in the inflammatory response after burn.
The importance of cardiomyocyte injury after burn has been emphasized in recent years, however, its pathogenesis, has not been fully clarified. In the current study we examined the role of the Th-17 mediated inflammatory response in the development of the cardiac injury after burn in a mouse model.
Methods
Animals
C57BL/6 male mice (18 to 22 g; 8 to 10 wk of age, Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, MA) were used for all experiments. The mice were allowed to acclimatize in the animal facility for at least 1 week prior to experimentation. Animals were randomly assigned into either a thermal injury group or a sham treatment group. The experiments in this study were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and were performed in accordance with the National Institutes of Health guidelines for the care and handling of laboratory animals.
Thermal injury procedure
Mice received a scald burn as described previously [
9]. Briefly, the mice were anesthetized by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of ketamine/xylazine, and the dorsal surface was shaved. The anesthetized mouse was placed in a custom insulated mold exposing 12.5% of their total body surface area (TBSA) along the right dorsum. The mold was immersed in 70°C water for 10 sec to produce a 3rd degree burn. The burn procedure was repeated on the left dorsum yielding a total burn size of 25% TBSA. The mice were then resuscitated with 1 ml of Ringer's lactate solution administered by intraperitoneal injection and returned to their cages. The cages were placed on a heating pad for 2 hr until the mice were fully awake, at which time they were returned to the animal facility. Sham treatment consisted of anesthesia and resuscitation with Ringer's lactate solution only.
Tissue collection and processing
At 3 hr after injury the mice were euthanized and tissue samples collected (plasma, heart, lung, liver, and small intestine). The tissue samples were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C prior to analysis.
Cytokine, Troponin-I, Myleoperoxidase and HMGB-1 determinations
Tissue samples were homogenized in protease inhibitor cocktail as previously described prior to analysis [
10]. Plasma samples were not treated. Tissue levels of Th-17 (IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, TGF-β) Th-1 (IFN-γ), and Th-2 (IL-10) cytokines were determined by ELISA according to the manufacturer's recommendations(R&D Systems) Plasma cardiac specific Troponin-I, HMGB-1 levels and cardiac myleoperoxidase (MPO) levels were determined by ELISA similarly, (Genway, Shino-Test Corp, Hycult biotechnology). Values obtained were normalized to total protein of the tissue homogenate as determined by BCA assay.
Statistical analysis
Data are expressed as mean ± SE. Comparisons were analyzed using ANOVA. A P value of < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant for all analyses.
Discussion
The inflammatory cascade elicited by burn activates a broad immunoinflammatory response known as the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS). This response involves a wide range of cells (e.g, macrophages, T-cells, neutrophils) and tissues (e.g., skin, spleen, liver, cardiac, lung). Ultimately, SIRS increases the potential for the development of Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS). Since the initial studies of Blalock in the 1930's about cardiovascular impairment after burn, many models have been proposed to explain its pathophysiology including fluid shift, changes in the microcirculation, coagulopathy and peripheral vasoconstriction, however, the most recent research studies have been focused on the association of certain factors with the cardiac dysfunction after burns, including complement, cellular apoptosis and cytokines as the purpose of the current study [
2,
11‐
14]. The pathophysiologic response in the cardiovascular system includes myocardial contractile dysfunction and increased vascular permeability. Several studies have shown that cardiac depression associated to burn injuries occurs independently of the plasma loss, develops early after the injury and early large volume resuscitation does not affect morbidity or mortality, suggesting an intrinsic tissue damage as a cause of its failure [
2,
15,
16]. Studies have confirmed the cardiovascular function impairment is in part a consequence of increased generation of potentially harmful mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines in models of myocardial ischemia, burn and sepsis [
17,
18]. Studies done by Barber et al, have pointed to cardiomyocytes as the source of those cytokines [
3]. This study by Barber et al. also showed a correlation of the burn size and the cytokine response and the degree of left ventricular dysfunction to a nadir of 40% TBSA. Maass et al. showed a synergistic effect of IL-1β, Il-6 and TNF-α exacerbating cardiac contraction and relaxation deficits produced by any one inflammatory cytokine [
17].
Studies by Finnerty et al. have recently shown that circulating IL-17 levels are increased early after burn in pediatric patients, as well in a mouse burn model [
19,
20]. These initial findings are suggestive that IL-17 plays an important role in the inflammatory response after burn. In that regard, results from the present study demonstrate that the early cardiac inflammatory response after burn involves IL-17 and other Th-17 cytokines (IL-6, IL-22). This cardiac Th-17 response correlated with the development of cardiac injury, as reflected in elevated plasma levels of Troponin-I, a sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury after burn, correlating with cardiac contraction and relaxation deficits [
21]. Huang et al. also showed a significant increase in serum levels of Troponin-I at 3 hours after burn [
15]. Somewhat surprisingly elevated levels of cardiac IL-17 were observed in sham animals at 3 and 6 hrs. This apparently aberrant response may be related to volume loading due to the administration of 1 ml IP of Ringer's lactate to the sham mice. This concept is supported by the observation that by 1 day once fluid levels have normalized IL-17 levels are barely detectable in the sham mice. In our study, the Th-17 response at 3 hr was organ specific as other tissues (lung, liver and small intestine) did not show a significant change in the Th-17 response. This does not preclude the possibility that other tissues express a Th-17 response later after injury. The recruitment of immune cells, particularly neutrophils, to a site of injury is the initial step in most inflammatory processes. Activated neutrophils release proteases and reactive oxygen intermediates, which can lead to significant tissue damage [
22]. Recent studies by Abdel-Rahman showed that limiting neutrophils activity after cardiopulmonary bypass, improves perioperative hemodynamics and cardiac function, demonstrating its detrimental effects upon activation [
23]. We have shown that the cardiac Th-17 response at 3 hr. post-burn is not associated with neutrophils infiltration as evidenced with unchanged levels of cardiac tissue MPO. A change in circulating levels of the HMGB-1 was also not evident in the current study. This may be in part related to the early time after injury that was investigated or the severity of the burn.
Evidence points to IL-17 as the major effector molecule produced by Th-17 cells. IL-17 stimulates several cell types, such as endothelial cells, epithelial cells and macrophages to produce multiple pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-6 and IL-23 [
24]. It also stimulates the mobilization and de novo generation of neutrophils by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), thereby bridging a gap between innate and adaptive immunity and might constitute an early defense mechanism against severe sepsis [
25]. Th-17-driven effector functions may also be different in different tissues [
7]. We found that cardiac Th cytokine responses after burn were specific for Th-17, as cardiac levels of Th-1 (IFN-γ) and Th-2 (IL-10) cytokines were not significantly affected by burn. IL-17 is thought of as a T-cell derived cytokine, however, limited studies suggest to non T-cell cell types can also produce this cytokine. Recent study by Lapara NJ 3rd et al. showed that macrophages are the key source of inflammatory mediators in Leishmania infection [
26]. Studies have also shown increased IL-17-expressing macrophages in active inflammatory bowel disease, high expression of IL-17 in macrophages-mediated inflammatory response in breast cancer as a promoter of invasiveness, and increased production in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in patients with active multiple sclerosis [
27‐
29]. Thus, the concept that cardiomyocytes can produce IL-17 directly is plausible. Future studies will need to examine the ability of isolated cardiomyocytes to produce IL-17 in vitro to validate this concept.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
JS and QZ were responsible for the animal experiments and ELISAs. MR was responsible for ELISA analysis, data analysis and scientific interpretation. RO was responsible for the data analysis, scientific interpretation and drafted the manuscript. MS was responsible for scientific conception, design and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.