Antidietary antigen antibodies in the sera of patients with burns as a potential marker of gut mucosa integrity failure.

Abstract

It was hypothesized that a failure of gut mucosa integrity after burn injury may lead to translocation of food proteins as well as bacteria and endotoxins. Certain, normally digested proteins may stimulate the humoral immune response as they enter the circulation. To test this hypothesis, serum samples from 16 patients with burns and 10 healthy donors were tested for the presence of antigliadin and anti-beta-lactoglobulin antibodies of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, IgA, and IgE classes by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients and donors remained on a standard diet that included wheat (gliadin) and milk products (beta-lactoglobulin). In the group of six patients with severe burns (mean total body surface area burn = 50%), antigliadin and anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgG and IgA antibodies were detected. In the control group and in 10 patients with small to moderate burns (mean total body surface area burn = 15%), these antibodies were not observed. There was a significant correlation between antigliadin IgG and IgA titers (r greater than 0.9) and anti-beta-lactoglobulin antibodies (r greater than 0.7) in patients with burns. Results suggest immunization by gliadin and beta-lactoglobulin in the group of patients with severe burns.