Differences in IgM synthesis to gut bacterial peptidoglycan polysaccharide after burn injury and gut ischemia.

Both burn injury and intestinal ischemia have been proven to induce bacterial translocation from the gut. It is still unknown, however, whether the bacteria induces immune response in these different models. To assess this, we measured in vitro IgM synthesis to peptidoglycan polysaccharide (PGPS), a ubiquitous gut bacterial antigen, after burn injury or gut ischemia-reperfusion in a mouse model. Eighty-five BALB/c mice were divided into four groups. Gut ischemia was produced by placing a vessel loop around the superior mesenteric artery at celiotomy (group Isc; n = 31). After 45 minutes, the abdomen was reopened, and the vessel loop removed. All animals had visible gut ischemia. Control mice (group Isc-C; n = 15) underwent two sham operations. Burn injury was 25% body surface area full-thickness to the dorsum (group B; n = 27). Another control group (B-C; n = 12) was also used. Animals were euthanized 24 hours after recirculation or 5 days after the burn injury. All spleens were removed, and cell suspensions prepared. Cells were cultured in 2.5 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide for 5 days, and anti-PGPS IgM level in the supernatant was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intestinal ischemia produced a significant rise in in vitro anti-PGPS IgM synthesis per 10(5) lymphocytes, which is the principal immunoglobulin response to infection. However, anti-PGPS IgM in mice after burn injury was significantly decreased. This decreased IgM synthesis after burn injury compared to gut ischemia may represent continued immune impairment from the burn wound, and may account for organ dysfunction related to bacterial translocation after burn injury.