OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of extrinsic carbon monoxide-releasing molecules II on inflammatory responses in liver of mice with severe burns and its potential mechanisms.

METHODSForty-five male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham (simulation of burn with 37 degrees C warm water), sham + CORM-2 (with 8 mg/kg CORM-2 after the same manipulation as sham group), burn (with 15% TBSA full-thickness burns), burn + CORM-2 (with 8 mg/kg CORM-2 after the same manipulation as burn group), burn + DMSO (with DMSO after the same treatment as burn group) groups,with 9 mice in each group. The serum level of ALT and AST were determined at 24 post-burn hours (PBH), and the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO), nuclear factor (NF) kappaB, intercellular adhesion molecular (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecular (VCAM-1), as well as adhesion of polymorphonuclear leucocytes to sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs) after serum stimulation were detected and assessed at the same time-points.

RESULTSThe level of ALT and AST (398 +/- 34,122 +/- 22 ), the activity of MPO and NF-kappaB, the protein level of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in burn group were obviously increased when compared with those in sham group and burn + CORM-2 group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Additionally, the adhesion of PMN on HSEC after stimulation of serum in burn group was enhanced, while it was markedly inhibited after stimulation of serum in burn + CORM-2 group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExtrinsic CORM-2 exhibits the ability to inhibit NF-kappaB activity, reduces the hepatic expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, thereby alleviating sequestration of leukocytes after severe burns, so that hepatic inflammatory response is ameliorated, and liver function is improved.