The effects of different burn dressings on length of telomere and expression of telomerase in children with thermal burns

Abstract

Background: Burns are a common traumatic injury triggered by local tissue damage and a systemic response. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different burn dressings on telomere kinetics in children with thermal burn injury. Methods: Sixty children with thermal burn were included in this prospective study. The burn area of the patients included 20 to 50% total body surface area. Three different dressings (hydrofiber with silver [HFAg], poylactic membrane [PLM], and silver sulfadiazine [SSD]) and control groups were created. Telomere length in nucleated blood cells and telomerase expression in the skin tissue were evaluated in control and burn groups. Results: In the whole burn groups, telomere length in blood cells increased. The length of telomeres increased the most in the SSD group. The PLM group is the treatment that increases the number of squamous cell counts in the basal layer and telomerase expression in the skin. In HFAg and SSD groups, the expression of telomerase in the skin is decreased. In the HFAg group, the basal layer in the skin was also reduced in squamous cells. Conclusion: In all burn groups, the telomere length of nucleated cells in the blood was higher than in the control group. SSD dressing along with autografting is the treatment method that maximizes telomere length in blood cells. The PLM has the most increased telomerase expression in the skin of burned patients. The PLM application increases the number of cells on both burned and normal skin.