1
|
Armoo A, Diemer T, Donkor A, Fedorchik J, Van Slambrouck S, Willand-Charnley R, Logue BA. Methimazole, an Effective Neutralizing Agent of the Sulfur Mustard Derivative 2-Chloroethyl Ethyl Sulfide. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:448-460. [PMID: 37876493 PMCID: PMC10591301 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur mustard (SM), designated by the military as HD, is a highly toxic and dangerous vesicant that has been utilized as a chemical warfare agent since World War I. Despite SM's extensive history, an effective antidote does not exist. The effects of SM are predominantly based on its ability to alkylate important biomolecules. Also, with the potential for a fraction of SM to remain unreacted up to days after initial contact, a window of opportunity exists for direct neutralization of unreacted SM over the days following exposure. In this study, we evaluated the structure-activity relationship of multiple nucleophilic molecules to neutralize the toxic effects of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a monofunctional analogue of SM, on human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Cell viability, relative loss of extracellular matrix adhesions, and apoptosis caused by CEES were measured via MTT, cell-matrix adhesion (CMA), and apoptosis protein marker assays, respectively. A set of five two-carbon compounds with various functional groups served as a preliminary group of first-generation neutralizing agents to survey the correlation between mitigation of CEES's toxic effects and functional group nucleophilicity. Apart from thioacids, which produced additive toxicity, we generally observed the trend of increasing protection from cytotoxicity with increasing nucleophilicity. We extended this treatment strategy to second-generation agents which contained advantageous structural features identified from the first-generation molecules. Our results show that methimazole (MIZ), a currently FDA-approved drug used to treat hyperthyroidism, effectively reduced cytotoxicity, increased CMA, and decreased apoptosis resulting from CEES toxicity. MIZ selectively reacts with CEES to produce 2-(2-(ethylthio)ethylthio)-1-methyl-1H-imidazole (EEMI) in media and cell lysate treatments resulting in the reduction of toxicity. Based on these results, future development of MIZ as an SM therapeutic may provide a viable approach to reduce both the immediate and long-term toxicity of SM and may also help mitigate slower developing SM toxicity due to residual intact SM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Armoo
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| | - Tanner Diemer
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| | - Abigail Donkor
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| | - Jerrod Fedorchik
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| | | | - Rachel Willand-Charnley
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| | - Brian A Logue
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota 57007, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lüling R, Schmeißer W, Siegert M, Mückter H, Dietrich A, Thiermann H, Gudermann T, John H, Steinritz D. Identification of creatine kinase and alpha-1 antitrypsin as protein targets of alkylation by sulfur mustard. Drug Test Anal 2020; 13:268-282. [PMID: 32852113 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sulfur mustard (SM) is a toxic chemical warfare agent deployed in several conflicts within the last 100 years and still represents a threat in terroristic attacks and warfare. SM research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of SM and identifying novel biomarkers of exposure. SM is known to alkylate nucleophilic moieties of endogenous proteins, for example, free thiol groups of cysteine residues. The two-dimensional-thiol-differences in gel electrophoresis (2D-thiol-DIGE) technique is an initial proteomics approach to detect proteins with free cysteine residues. These amino acids are selectively labeled with infrared-maleimide dyes visualized after GE. Cysteine residues derivatized by alkylating agents are no longer accessible for the maleimide-thiol coupling resulting in the loss of the fluorescent signal of the corresponding protein. To prove the applicability of 2D-thiol-DIGE, this technology was exemplarily applied to neat human serum albumin treated with SM, to lysates from human cell culture exposed to SM as well as to human plasma exposed to CEES (chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, an SM analogue). Exemplarily, the most prominent proteins modified by SM were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (tandem) mass spectrometry, MALDI-TOF MS(/MS), as creatine kinase (CK) from human cells and as alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) from plasma samples. Peptides containing the residue Cys282 of CK and Cys232 of A1AT were unambiguously identified by micro liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization high-resolution tandem-mass spectrometry (μLC-ESI MS/HR MS) as being alkylated by SM bearing the specific hydroxyethylthioethyl-(HETE)-moiety. Both peptides might represent potential biomarkers of SM exposure. This is the first report introducing these endogenous proteins as targets of SM alkylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin Lüling
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany.,Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Markus Siegert
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Harald Mückter
- Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Dietrich
- Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Horst Thiermann
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Gudermann
- Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Harald John
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Steinritz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany.,Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany.,Bundeswehr Medical Service Academy, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Cell toxicity may result in organ dysfunction and cause severe health problem. Recent studies revealed many toxicants may induced the over production of Nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species and the subsequent oxidative stress, cause cell toxicity. Mitochondrion dysfunction maybe the subsequent consequence of oxidative stress and has been recognized as another contributing factor in cell toxicity. Besides, oxidative products induced by some toxicants may also produce the compounds that damage cell DNA, leading to toxicity. Especially, the significance of nanoparticle induced cell toxicity was disclosed recently and attract more concern. The mechanism mainly includes inflammation, oxidative stress and DNA damage. On the other side, some biomarkers of cell toxicity including autophagy, cytokines, miRNA has been identified. The understanding of these phenomenon may enable us to clarify the cell toxicity mechanism then contribute to cell toxicity protection, disease treatment and drug side effect prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Zhongshan Hospital Institute of Clinical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Clinical Bioinformatics, Biomedical Research Center, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Next-generation sequencing approaches for the study of genome and epigenome toxicity induced by sulfur mustard. Arch Toxicol 2018; 92:3443-3457. [PMID: 30155719 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-018-2294-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Sulfur mustard (SM) is an extensive nucleophilic and alkylating agent that targets different tissues. The genotoxic property of SM is the most threatening effect, because it is associated with detrimental inflammations and susceptibility to several kinds of cancer. Moreover, SM causes a wide variety of adverse effects on DNA which result in accumulation of DNA adducts, multiple mutations, aneuploidies, and epigenetic aberrations in the genome. However, these adverse effects are still not known well, possibly because no valid biomarkers have been developed for detecting them. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has provided opportunities for the characterization of these alterations with a higher level of molecular detail and cost-effectivity. The present review introduces NGS approaches for the detection of SM-induced DNA adducts, mutations, chromosomal structural variation, and epigenetic aberrations, and also comparing and contrasting them with regard to which might be most advantageous.
Collapse
|
5
|
Immediate responses of the cockroach Blaptica dubia after the exposure to sulfur mustard. Arch Toxicol 2017; 92:337-346. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-017-2064-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
6
|
Pohanka M, Martinkova P, Brtnicky M, Kynicky J. Changes in the oxidative stress/anti-oxidant system after exposure to sulfur mustard and antioxidant strategies in the therapy, a review. Toxicol Mech Methods 2017; 27:408-416. [DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2017.1320695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Pohanka
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Martinkova
- Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defense, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Brtnicky
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jindrich Kynicky
- Department of Geology and Pedology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kubas G, Rees W, Caguiat J, Asch D, Fagan D, Cortes P. Identification of peptide sequences that selectively bind to pentaerythritol trinitrate hemisuccinate-a surrogate of PETN, via phage display technology. Biopolymers 2017; 108. [PMID: 27711976 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The present research investigates the identification of amino acid sequences that selectively bind to a pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) explosive surrogate. Through the use of a phage display technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), a peptide library was tested against pentaerythritol trinitrate hemisuccinate (PETNH), a surrogate of PETN, to screen for those with amino acids having affinity toward the explosive. The results suggest that the library contains peptides selective to PETNH. Following three rounds of panning, clones were picked and tested for specificity toward PETNH. ELISA results from these samples show that each phage clone has some level of selectivity for binding to PETNH. The peptides from these clones have been sequenced and shown to contain certain common amino acid segments among them. This work represents a technological platform for identifying amino-acid sequences selective toward any bio-chem analyte of interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Kubas
- Material Science & Engineering Program, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| | - William Rees
- Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| | - Jonathan Caguiat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| | - David Asch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| | - Diana Fagan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| | - Pedro Cortes
- Department of Civil & Chemical Engineering Materials Science & Engineering Program, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Asha P, Sinha M, Mandal S. Effective removal of chemical warfare agent simulants using water stable metal–organic frameworks: mechanistic study and structure–property correlation. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra28131a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Water stable zirconium based MOFs are used for the efficient adsorptive removal of chemical warfare agent simulants from aqueous medium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P. Asha
- School of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
- Thiruvananthapuram
- India
| | - Mekhola Sinha
- School of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
- Thiruvananthapuram
- India
| | - Sukhendu Mandal
- School of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
- Thiruvananthapuram
- India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Debiak M, Lex K, Ponath V, Burckhardt-Boer W, Thiermann H, Steinritz D, Schmidt A, Mangerich A, Bürkle A. Immunochemical analysis of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in HaCaT keratinocytes induced by the mono-alkylating agent 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES): Impact of experimental conditions. Toxicol Lett 2015; 244:72-80. [PMID: 26383632 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Sulfur mustard (SM) is a bifunctional alkylating agent with a long history of use as a chemical weapon. Although its last military use is dated for the eighties of the last century, a potential use in terroristic attacks against civilians remains a significant threat. Thus, improving medical therapy of mustard exposed individuals is still of particular interest. PARP inhibitors were recently brought into the focus as a potential countermeasure for mustard-induced pathologies, supported by the availability of efficient compounds successfully tested in cancer therapy. PARP activation after SM treatment was reported in several cell types and tissues under various conditions; however, a detailed characterization of this phenomenon is still missing. This study provides the basis for such studies by developing and optimizing experimental conditions to investigate poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) in HaCaT keratinocytes upon treatment with the monofunctional alkylating agent 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide ("half mustard", CEES). By using an immunofluorescence-based approach, we show that optimization of experimental conditions with regards to the type of solvent, dilution factors and treatment procedure is essential to obtain a homogenous PAR staining in HaCaT cell cultures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that different CEES treatment protocols significantly influence the cytotoxicity profiles of treated cells. Using an optimized treatment protocol, our data reveals that CEES induces a dose- and time-dependent dynamic PARylation response in HaCaT cells that could be completely blocked by treating cells with the clinically relevant pharmacological PARP inhibitor ABT888 (also known as veliparib). Finally, siRNA experiments show that CEES-induced PAR formation is predominantly due to the activation of PARP1. In conclusion, this study provides a detailed analysis of the CEES-induced PARylation response in HaCaT keratinocytes, which forms an experimental basis to study the molecular mechanism of PARP1 activation and its functional consequences after mustard treatment in general. Such a study is presented in an accompanying article (Mangerich et al., 2016).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Debiak
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kirsten Lex
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Viviane Ponath
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Waltraud Burckhardt-Boer
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Horst Thiermann
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Steinritz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany; Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Annette Schmidt
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Aswin Mangerich
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Alexander Bürkle
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mangerich A, Debiak M, Birtel M, Ponath V, Balszuweit F, Lex K, Martello R, Burckhardt-Boer W, Strobelt R, Siegert M, Thiermann H, Steinritz D, Schmidt A, Bürkle A. Sulfur and nitrogen mustards induce characteristic poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation responses in HaCaT keratinocytes with distinctive cellular consequences. Toxicol Lett 2015; 244:56-71. [PMID: 26383629 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mustard agents are potent DNA alkylating agents with mutagenic, cytotoxic and vesicant properties. They include bi-functional agents, such as sulfur mustard (SM) or nitrogen mustard (mustine, HN2), as well as mono-functional agents, such as "half mustard" (CEES). Whereas SM has been used as a chemical warfare agent, several nitrogen mustard derivatives, such as chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide, are being used as established chemotherapeutics. Upon induction of specific forms of genotoxic stimuli, several poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) synthesize the nucleic acid-like biopolymer poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) by using NAD(+) as a substrate. Previously, it was shown that SM triggers cellular poly(ADP-ribosyl) ation (PARylation), but so far this phenomenon is poorly characterized. In view of the protective effects of PARP inhibitors, the latter have been proposed as a treatment option of SM-exposed victims. In an accompanying article (Debiak et al., 2016), we have provided an optimized protocol for the analysis of the CEES-induced PARylation response in HaCaT keratinocytes, which forms an experimental basis to further analyze mustard-induced PARylation and its functional consequences, in general. Thus, in the present study, we performed a comprehensive characterization of the PARylation response in HaCaT cells after treatment with four different mustard agents, i.e., SM, CEES, HN2, and chlorambucil, on a qualitative, quantitative and functional level. In particular, we recorded substance-specific as well as dose- and time-dependent PARylation responses using independent bioanalytical methods based on single-cell immuno-fluorescence microscopy and quantitative isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we analyzed if and how PARylation contributes to mustard-induced toxicity by treating HaCaT cells with CEES, SM, and HN2 in combination with the clinically relevant PARP inhibitor ABT888. As evaluated by a novel immunofluorescence-based protocol for the detection of N7-ETE-guanine DNA adducts, the excision rate of CEES-induced DNA adducts was not affected by PARP inhibition. Furthermore, while CEES induced moderate changes in cellular NAD(+) levels, annexin V/PI flow cytometry analysis revealed that these changes did not affect CEES-induced short-term cytotoxicity 24h after treatment. In contrast, PARP inhibition impaired cell proliferation and clonogenic survival, and potentiated micronuclei formation of HaCaT cells upon CEES treatment. Similarly, PARP inhibition affected clonogenic survival of cells treated with bi-functional mustards such as SM and HN2. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PARylation plays a functional role in mustard-induced cellular stress response with substance-specific differences. Since PARP inhibitors exhibit therapeutic potential to treat SM-related pathologies and to sensitize cancer cells for mustard-based chemotherapy, potential long-term effects of PARP inhibition on genomic stability and carcinogenesis should be carefully considered when pursuing such a strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aswin Mangerich
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Malgorzata Debiak
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Matthias Birtel
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Viviane Ponath
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Frank Balszuweit
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Kirsten Lex
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Rita Martello
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Waltraud Burckhardt-Boer
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Romano Strobelt
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Siegert
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Horst Thiermann
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Steinritz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany; Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Annette Schmidt
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Bürkle
- University of Konstanz, Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jowsey PA, Blain PG. Whole genome expression analysis in primary bronchial epithelial cells after exposure to sulphur mustard. Toxicol Lett 2014; 230:393-401. [PMID: 25102026 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Sulphur mustard (SM) is a highly toxic chemical agent and poses a current threat to both civilians and military personnel in the event of a deliberate malicious release. Acute SM toxicity develops over the course of several hours and mainly affects the skin and mucosal surfaces of the eyes and respiratory system. In cases of acute severe exposure, significant lung injury can result in respiratory failure and death. Systemic levels of SM can also be fatal, frequently due to immunodepletion and the subsequent development of secondary infections. Whilst the physical effects associated with SM exposure are well documented, the molecular mechanisms mediating these changes are poorly understood, hindering the development of an effective therapeutic strategy. To gain a better understanding of the mechanism of SM toxicity, this study investigated whole genome transcriptional changes after SM in primary human bronchial epithelial cells, as a model for inhalation exposure. The analysis revealed >400 transcriptional changes associated with SM exposure. Pathways analysis confirmed the findings of previous studies suggesting that DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, cell death and inflammation were important components of SM toxicity. In addition, several other interesting observations were made, suggesting that protein oxidation as well as effects on the mitotic apparatus may contribute to SM toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Jowsey
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Wolfson Unit, Newscastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE 4AA, United Kingdom.
| | - Peter G Blain
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Wolfson Unit, Newscastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE 4AA, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|