Macrophage response in experimental third-degree skin burns treated with allograft. Histological and immunohistochemical study.

Macrophages are some of the innate immune cells with a central role in inflammatory and immune responses. Studies in the last 20 years have shown that these cells have a particular influence in the reparative processes also. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the macrophage response in third-degree skin burns treated with allograft in an experimental model. Macrophages were specifically highlighted by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD68 antibody. In the first evolutive part of the reparatory process, macrophages rapidly increased both numerically and as a relative area with about 300%, and then decreased progressively along with the granulation tissue maturation. Macrophage overall response curve was similar in animals treated with allograft and in the control group (untreated), which leads us to believe that the allograft does not induce a more ample immune response that could be regarded as pathological.