Proposal of leukotoxin, 9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoate, as a burn toxin.

Abstract

It is postulated that toxic substances (burn toxin) synthesized in burned skin are transferred into general circulation and cause multiple organ failure. We found a highly cytotoxic substance, leukotoxin, a linoleate epoxide, exists in burned skin. Leukotoxin, as the name indicates, was synthesized by leukocytes from linoleate as a substrate. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of leukotoxin as a burn toxin. We studied plasma leukotoxin level of four patients with extensive burns (over 50% of body surface area) and examined coagulation studies in these patients. We detected considerable amounts of leukotoxin (11.4 nmol/ml-37.0 nmol/ml) in all patients. Leukotoxin was not detected in the control subjects. Pulmonary edema, cardiac failure, and coagulation abnormalities were found in these patients. Exogeneously administered leukotoxin induced similar pathological conditions in experimental animals to those observed in patients with extensive burns. Hence, it is concluded that leukotoxin is a responsible substance as a burn toxin.

• Authors: M Hayakawa, K Kosaka, S Sugiyama, K Yokoo, H Aoyama, Y Izawa, T Ozawa
• Journal: Biochemistry international (Biochem Int) Vol. 21 Issue 3 Pg. 573-9 ( 1990) ISSN: 0158-5231 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 2222499 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Linoleic Acids
• Toxins, Biological
• 9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Blood Coagulation Disorders (chemically induced)
• Burns (blood)
• Dogs
• Female
• Humans
• Linoleic Acids (blood, toxicity)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Skin (metabolism)
• Toxins, Biological (blood)
• Whole Blood Coagulation Time