The impact of burn trauma on glycocalyx derangement

Burn injuries often lead to severe complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), driven in part by systemic inflammation and glycocalyx disruption. In this study, we analyzed the sera of 28 patients after burn trauma and utilized transcriptomic analyses to decipher the impact of burn injury on glycocalyx derangement. We observed significant upregulation of immune cell-derived degrading enzymes, particularly matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP8), which correlated with increased immune cell infiltration and glycocalyx derangement. Serum analysis of burn patients revealed significantly elevated levels of shed glycocalyx components and MMP8, both correlating with the presence of inhalation injury. Consequently, treatment of human in vitro lung tissue models with MMP8 induced significant glycocalyx shedding in both, the endothelium and epithelium. Together our data suggest MMP8 as a contributor of glycocalyx disruption and lung injury post-burn.