RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE MODULATES TH1 AND TH2 CYTOKINE RESPONSE IN BURNED MICE

Objective To determine whether growth hormone (GH) influences the prod uction of type 1 T-helper (Th1) and type 2 T-helper (Th2) cytokine res ponses after burn. Summary Background Data GH has been shown to influe nce immunoregulation. The authors previously reported improved mortali ty in burned mice treated with GH after infection with herpesvirus. Ot her work has shown that impaired immunity after burn was characterized by conversion of Th cell populations from Th1 cells to Th2 cells, sug gesting an increased susceptibility of patients with burns to infectio n. Methods The production of Th1 and Th2 cytokine from isolated spleni c lymphocytes taken from GH-treated burned mice was measured. Results At 1 and 11 days after burn, Th1 cytokine production by splenic lympho cytes from burned mice treated with GH was greater than in mice receiv ing saline. In fact, Th1 cytokine production was greater than that of nonburned mice. In addition, the production of Th2 cytokines was decre ased, Conclusions Results suggest that the Th1/Th2 response is altered after burn, and this can be reversed with GH. GH, therefore, may impr ove resistance to infection in patients with burns.