Changes in nonspecific proteinases and their inhibitors in rats with thermal skin burn during the use of experimental treatments

Abstract

Background. Burn injuries of the skin, specifically thermal burns, are internationally recognized as an important social and medical issue. According to statistical data of the World Health Organization thermal skin burns and their complications account for approximately 15% of all peacetime traumatic injuries. Despite the rapid development of new therapies for skin burns the effectiveness of etiologically and pathogenetically substantiated therapy remains a relevant and controversial issue. Aim: To determine the degree and nature of changes in nonspecific proteinases and their inhibitors in serum and supernatants of skin homogenates from Wistar rats with second degree deep thermal burn wounds and during the use of a biocomposition based on silver nanoparticles stabilized in a solution with sodium alginate and a proteinase aprotinin inhibitor for modification of the inflammatory process. Methods. Two series of experiments were performed on Wistar male rats: 1) evaluating the dynamics of changes in proteinases and their inhibitors in blood serum and supernatants of rat skin homogenates without correction and 2) studying the above-listed changes during a pharmaceutical correction. The trypsin-like activity (TLA), elastase-like activity (ELA), antitryptic activity (ATA), and acid-stable inhibitors (ASI) were measured in serum and supernatants of homogenates using enzymatic methods; protein concentration was determined by the Lowry method. Results. The article presents dynamic changes in nonspecific proteinases and their inhibitors studied on a model of second degree deep thermal burn wounds in 100 Wistar rats. Combination applications with a solution of nanosilver and aprotinin was the most effective experimental treatment of the proteinase and inhibitor homeostasis disorders. Conclusions. The observed changes in proteolytic activity reflect the nature of inflammatory process and may indicate development of destructive changes in the rat skin and alleviation of inflammation using the experimental treatment. At the local level, the imbalance of nonspecific proteinases and their inhibitors was characterized by activation of proteases associated with depletion of the inhibitory potential while at the systemic level, the increase in proteolytic activity was associated with a reactive increase in levels of inhibitors, which confirms the advisability of local therapy for
burns with proteinase inhibitors. The most effective experimental therapy for the proteinase and inhibitor homeostasis disorders was the combined use of applications with a solution of nanosilver and aprotinin.