EFFECT OF BURN PATIENT SERUM ON FIBROBLAST AND KERATINOCYTE CELL MORPHOLOGY

The effect of burn patient serum on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell m orphology in culture was investigated using the scanning electron micr oscope. Serum was taken from five patients with burn injuries ranging from 8 to 65 per cent TBSA (10-65 per cent full-thickness). One patien t had superficial bums. Pooled serum from 23 volunteers was used as th e control serum. The cells were seeded onto collagen-coated glass cove rslips and incubated for 5 days with culture medium containing 10 per cent (v/v) control serum or patient serum taken during the early postb urn period. Scanning electron micrographs demonstrated a reduction in fibroblast cell density with serum from patients with full-thickness b urns. Furthermore, the spindle shape of the fibroblast cell was greatl y exaggerated compared with control cultures. The integrity of the ker atinocyte sheet was destroyed when keratinocyte cells were incubated w ith serum from patients with Full-thickness bums. Globular-like struct ures or membrane protrusions were present in concentrated areas on ker atinocyte cells which were not present in control cultures. This study demonstrated the vulnerability of cutaneous cells to systemic factors present in the early postburn serum. The extent of the effect appears to be related to the presence of full-thickness injury. This effect m ay further explain the frequent aberrant wound healing response to bur n injury. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI.