Quantitative analysis of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in human skin wounds

Proinflammatory cytokines play an important role in the mediation of inflammation and trauma. They could be useful fur the determination of vitality and wound age. In the present study, 144 human skin wounds due to sharp Force were investigated. The material was collected during operations (N=96) and postmortem examinations (N=48). The wound age varied From several seconds or minutes to 9 days. Control shin was available in each individual. The tissue specimens were homogenized and extracted in a solution of PBS and protease inhibitors. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by quantitative ELISA analysis. Statistical evaluation was performed by the t-test using the quotients of levels (wound sample/control skin). In surgical specimens the cytokine levels revealed a clear tendency to increase with wound age. IL-1 beta in early skin wounds (less than or equal to 30 min) and TNF-alpha after a wound age of 1-2 h demonstrated statistically significant changes in comparison with control sh;in (P<0.05). In autopsy samples with severe traumatization excessive elevation of cytokine levels was observed: IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha showed significant increases (P<0.001-0.05) in stab and incised wounds with very short survival times of less than 5 min, but not in possibly supravital injuries. Elevated IL-6 levels persisted in older wounds (>24 h, P<0.05). The quantitative analysis of proinflammatory cytokines in wound extracts can contribute to the determination of vitality and wound age, in particular in the very early post-traumatic interval (classic stab wounds). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.