Article
Investigation of intradermal inflammatory response in excised human skin after a burn stimulus
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Published: | January 18, 2017 |
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Outline
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Local inflammatory response to a burn stimulus is poorly investigated due to a lack of adequate sampling technologies. Open flow microperfusion (OFM), a minimally invasive sampling method, enables sampling of interstitial fluid (ISF) directly in the dermis. We used OFM sampling in fresh excised human skin flaps and applied different burn stimuli – burning and scalding of the skin surface. OFM samples were screened regarding approx. 100 inflammatory biomarkers. Simultaneously, we monitored the temperature curve in the dermis during and after the burning process.
In a feasibility study three test areas were defined on each skin sample and three OFM probes were inserted into the dermis of each test area at a depth of about 0.8 mm. One test area was treated with a burn stimulus using a heated metal block, the second test area with a scalding stimulus by using boiling water and the third area was used as a negative control site. The temperature curve in the dermis was measured using temperature sensors. OFM was used to continuously collect dermal ISF samples for 48 hours. Half-hourly and hourly aliquots were used to screen for inflammatory biomarkers and biopsies were taken for histology to verify the burn injury.
The results showed a difference in cytokine levels between sites treated with a burn stimulus and the control site. The effect remained consistent for the monitoring period of 48 hours. Further experiments will compare the excised human skin model to a similar in-vivo situation.