Sex-Based Differences in Long-Term Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation and Stress Regulation After Non-Severe Paediatric Burns

Monique Ryan; Eva Kierath; Sam Lodge; Reika Masuda; Jacqueline A Davis; Nina D’Vaz; Lucy W. Barrett; Nicola Gray; Elaine Holmes; Fiona M. Wood; Luke Whiley

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2026.108004

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Sex-Based Differences in Long-Term Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation and Stress Regulation After Non-Severe Paediatric Burns

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Sex-Based Differences in Long-Term Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation and Stress Regulation After Non-Severe Paediatric Burns

Monique Ryan, Eva Kierath, Sam Lodge, Reika Masuda, Jacqueline A Davis, Nina D’Vaz, Lucy W. Barrett, Nicola Gray, Elaine Holmes, Fiona M. Wood, …

Burns, Vol.52(6), 108004

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2026.108004

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Abstract

Lipidomics

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

ORIGINS

Paediatric Burn injury

Sex differences

Paediatric burn injuries are a global health concern with long-term health consequences, such as psychological, immune, and cardiovascular complications, that can persist even after non-severe injuries. Emerging evidence suggests that biological sex may influence post-burn outcomes in children, as female burn survivors have been shown to experience higher mortality, scarring, anxiety, depression, and poorer quality of life compared to males. This study addresses a critical research gap by examining sex-specific lipidomic and inflammatory responses following paediatric non-severe burn injury. Children under five years were recruited as a part of the Childhood Burn Injury Biobank at hospital admission, with longitudinal follow-ups, and non-burn controls aged 1 and 3 were collected from the ORIGINS cohort. Plasma lipid profiling and acute-phase glycoprotein systemic inflammatory markers (GlycA and GlycB) were quantified using metabolic phenotyping with hair cortisol provided as a longitudinal measure of stress. Lipidomic analysis revealed acute-phase disruptions in fatty acids and lysophospholipids in both sexes but only females demonstrated a persistent increase of arachidonic acid (FA 20:4) and depletion of monoacylglycerols more than a year post-injury. Females also had significantly higher acute-phase GlycA/GlycB levels around the time of injury and exhibited increasing variability in hair cortisol over time, while male burn survivors did not. These findings highlight a sex-specific response between lipid metabolism, systemic inflammation and stress in paediatric recovery from non-severe burns. Understanding these differences may guide the development of targeted psychological and physiological strategies to improve long-term outcomes for young burn survivors.

Details

Title: Sex-Based Differences in Long-Term Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation and Stress Regulation After Non-Severe Paediatric Burns
Authors/Creators: Monique Ryan - Murdoch University
Eva Kierath - Murdoch University
Sam Lodge - Murdoch University
Reika Masuda - Murdoch University
Jacqueline A Davis - Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
Nina D’Vaz - Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
Lucy W. Barrett - The University of Western Australia
Nicola Gray - Murdoch University
Elaine Holmes - Murdoch University, Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
Fiona M. Wood - The University of Western Australia
Luke Whiley - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Burns, Vol.52(6), 108004
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Identifiers: 991005877055007891
Murdoch Affiliation: Australian National Phenome Centre; Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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