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Journal article
Sex-Based Differences in Long-Term Lipid Metabolism, Inflammation and Stress Regulation After Non-Severe Paediatric Burns
Burns, Vol.52(6), 108004
2026
Abstract
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 UniversityEva Kierath - Murdoch UniversitySam Lodge - Murdoch UniversityReika Masuda - Murdoch UniversityJacqueline A Davis - Princess Margaret Hospital for ChildrenNina D’Vaz - Princess Margaret Hospital for ChildrenLucy W. Barrett - The University of Western AustraliaNicola Gray - Murdoch UniversityElaine Holmes - Murdoch University, Centre for Computational and Systems MedicineFiona M. Wood - The University of Western AustraliaLuke Whiley - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Burns, Vol.52(6), 108004
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.; London
- Number of pages
- 13
- Identifiers
- 991005877055007891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Australian National Phenome Centre; Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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