Alteration of the cytokine-related gene expression levels in lymphocytes observed in thermally injured patients estimated by the DNA chip technology

Abstract With DNA chip technology, we could analyze numbers of genes altogether from various samples. To decrease the high mortality rate for burn patients, we should explore novel approaches to treat patients. For this purpose, the change in interferons (IFN), interleukins (IL), and their receptors after burn injury were analyzed. Lymphocytes obtained from two burn patients and four healthy volunteers were analyzed for their gene expression levels using a Macroarray DNA chip technology. Among IFN or IL receptors, IFNγR1, IL1R1, -2Rα, -2Rβ, -2Rγ, -6Rα, and -7R decreased in burn patient, whereas IL5Rα and IL4Rα increased, compared to healthy subjects. In IL and IFN genes, IL1β, IL8, and IL10, showing high expression in the normal subjects, decreased their level after burn injury. The levels for IFNβ1 and IL2, -7, and -16 gene expression decreased, while those for IFNγ, IL1α, -13, and -15 increased, in the patient. These results confirmed that the burn induces a significant shift of the expression level in cytokine-related genes. By carefully analyzing the data, it might be possible to invent a novel therapy for burn patients, such as supplementation of certain cytokine gene.