Abstract

A Non-targeted Metabolomics Analysis to Study Longitudinal Metabolic Changes Following a Burn Injury in Adults

Warwick Dunn, Lecturer in Metabolomics, University of Birmingham

Introduction: In the UK there are 175,000 reported burns injuries, 13,000 hospital admissions and 300 deaths per year. Following a burn injury many biochemical changes are observed including an acute stress response, systemic inflammation, immune dysfunction as well as prolonged changes in hypermetabolic catabolism. Here we apply non-targeted metabolomics studies of serum and urine to investigate global metabolic changes longitudinally to define metabolite and pathway-specific changes across the post-burn recovery period. Methods: Patients included in the study were adults and elderly patients with burns =15% TBSA burns. ‘Spot’ urine and serum samples were collected on admission and at intervals across the first 6 months post-burn injury. Samples were analysed applying Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS) followed by univariate and multivariate analysis techniques. Results and Conclusion: Data showed three distinct phases of metabolism (0-5, 5-14 and >14 days) with changes in multiple areas of metabolism including energy metabolism (fatty acid beta-oxidation, glycolysis), oxidative stress, nitrogen excretion (urea cycle, proteolysis), bile acid metabolism and steroid hormone metabolism. These results offer targets for post-trauma nutrition or drug treatment to improve outcome and reduce recovery period.