NYMC Faculty Publications
Antioxidant/stress Response in Mouse Epidermis Following Exposure to Nitrogen Mustard
DOI
10.1016/j.yexmp.2020.104410
Journal Title
Experimental and Molecular Pathology
First Page
104410
Last Page
104410
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2020
Department
Environmental Health Science
Abstract
Nitrogen mustard (NM) is a highly reactive bifunctional alkylating agent that induces inflammation, edema and blistering in skin. An important mechanism mediating the action of NM and related mustards is oxidative stress. In these studies a modified murine patch-test model was used to analyze DNA damage and the antioxidant/stress response following NM exposure in isolated epidermis. NM (20 μmol) was applied to glass microfiber filters affixed to a shaved dorsal region of skin of CD-1 mice. NM caused structural damage to the stratum corneum as reflected by increases in transepidermal water loss and skin hydration. This was coordinate with edema, mast cell degranulation and epidermal hyperplasia. Within 3 h of NM exposure, a 4-fold increase in phosphorylated histone H2AX, a marker of DNA double-stranded breaks, and a 25-fold increase in phosphorylated p53, a DNA damage marker, were observed in the epidermis. This was associated with a 40% increase in 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine modified DNA in the epidermis and a 4-fold increase in 4-hydroxynonenal modified epidermal proteins. At 12 h post NM, there was a 3-75 fold increase in epidermal expression of antioxidant/stress proteins including heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, heat shock protein 27 and cyclooxygenase 2. These data indicate that NM induces early oxidative epidermal injury in mouse skin leading to an antioxidant/stress response. Agents that enhance this response may be useful in mitigating mustard-induced skin injury.
Recommended Citation
Wahler, G., Heck, D. E., Heindel, N. D., Laskin, D. L., Laskin, J., & Joseph, L. B. (2020). Antioxidant/stress Response in Mouse Epidermis Following Exposure to Nitrogen Mustard. Experimental and Molecular Pathology, 114, 104410-104410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexmp.2020.104410