Ethanol exacerbates pulmonary complications after burn injury in mice, regardless of frequency of ethanol exposures

• Published in: Burns 2023-12, Vol.49 (8), p.1935-1943
• Main Authors: Khair, Shanawaj, Walrath, Travis M, Curtis, Brenda J, Orlicky, David J, McMahan, Rachel H, Kovacs, Elizabeth J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcoholic Intoxication - complications; Animals; Burns - complications; Burns - pathology; episodic binge; Ethanol; Ethanol intoxication; Humans; Interleukin-6; lung CXCL1; lung granulocyte; lung IL-6; lung inflammation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pneumonia - complications
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2023.07.008

Burn injuries are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and lungs are the most common organ to fail. Interestingly, patients with alcohol intoxication at the time of burn have worse clinical outcomes, including pulmonary complications. Using a clinically relevant murine model, we have previously reported that episodic ethanol exposure before burn exacerbated lung inflammation. Specifically, intoxicated burned mice had worsened pulmonary responses, including increased leukocyte infiltration and heightened levels of CXCL1 and IL-6. Herein, we examined whether a single binge ethanol exposure before scald burn injury yields similar pulmonary responses. C57BL/6 male mice were given ethanol (1.2g/kg) 30min before a 15% total body surface area burn. These mice were compared to a second cohort given episodic ethanol binge for a total of 6 days (3 days ethanol, 4 days rest, 3 days ethanol) prior to burn injury. 24hours after burn, histopathological examination of lungs were performed. In addition, survival, and levels of infiltrating leukocytes, CXCL1, and IL-6 were quantified. Episodic and single ethanol exposure before burn decreased survival compared to burn only mice and sham vehicle mice, respectively (p