The Relationship Between Interferon- γ and Keratinocyte Alloantigen Expression After Burn Injury

Abstract

Burn injury decreases the antigenicity of CK allografts, which partly explains delayed allograft rejection after burn injury. Although wound IFN-gamma increases after minor thermal injury, the profound decrease in wound and skin IFN-gamma after a major burn corresponds with diminished class II antigen expression. The decreased availability of IFN-gamma after major thermal injury provides a mechanism for limited allograft tolerance.