Effect of burn patient serum on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell morphology

The effect of burn patient serum on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell morphology in culture was investigated using the scanning electron microscope. Serum was taken from five patients with burn injuries ranging from 8 to 65 per cent TBSA (10–65 per cent full-thickness). One patient had superficial burns. Pooled serum from 23 volunteers was used as the control serum. The cells were seeded onto collagen-coated glass coverslips and incubated for 5 days with culture medium containing 10 per cent (v/v) control serum or patient serum taken during the early postburn period. Scanning electron micrographs demonstrated a reduction in fibroblast cell density with serum from patients with full-thickness burns. Furthermore, the spindle shape of the fibroblast cell was greatly exaggerated compared with control cultures. The integrity of the keratinocyte sheet was destroyed when keratinocyte cells were incubated with serum from patients with full-thickness burns. Globular-like structures or membrane protrusions were present in concentrated areas on keratinocyte 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 may further explain the frequent aberrant wound healing response to burn injury.