The effect of treating infected skin grafts with Acticoat™ on immune cells

Mazurak, Vera C.; Burrell, Robert E.; Tredget, Edward E.; Clandinin, M. Thomas; Field, Catherine J.

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2006.04.027

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Volume 33, Issue 1 , Pages 52-58, February 2007

The effect of treating infected skin grafts with Acticoat™ on immune cells

Vera C. Mazurak
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2P5
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 780 492 8048; fax: +1 780 492 4265.
Robert E. Burrell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada
Edward E. Tredget
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery and Critical Care, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada
M. Thomas Clandinin
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2P5
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada
Catherine J. Field
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2P5
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada

Accepted 25 April 2006.

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effect of Acticoat™ placed on an infected skin graft on parameters of immunity. Two partial thickness wounds (2cm×4cm) were created on the dorsal midline of Hartley guinea pigs (n=28). Wounds were covered with autologous skin graft and maintained either aseptically (Noninoculated, n=8), inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (Surgery-Inoculated, n=8) with or without Acticoat™ bandage (Surgery-Inoculated-Acticoat, n=6). Five days later, splenocytes and blood were collected to estimate natural killer cell (NK) cytotoxicity, proliferative response to T and B cell mitogens and neutrophil oxidative burst. Animals that did not undergo surgery were included as a nonsurgery control group. [³H]-thymidine incorporation in response to a variety of T and B cell mitogens was significantly lower for all groups undergoing surgery compared to the nonsurgery control group (p<0.0001) and no additional effect was observed on this immune measure by applying the Acticoat bandage. The Surgery-Inoculated-Acticoat group exhibited greater NK cytotoxic activity (as assessed as the ability to lyse K562 tumor cells) compared to the Surgery-Inoculated group (p<0.006). The Surgery-Inoculated-Acticoat group had higher neutrophil oxidative burst at 5min post stimulation, but was not different from controls after 15min. In conclusion, the application of an Acticoat™ bandage to an inoculated surgery wound did not alter the low cell-mediated immune response that followed surgery, but appeared to increase parameters (NK cytotoxic activity and neutrophil function) of innate immunity.