Oxidative stress sulfur mustard

The mechanism of action of sulfur mustard is multifaceted and complex, and has been reviewed in some detail by Papirmeister et al. (1991), Hurst and Smith (2008), and Smith et al. (2008). Efforts to understand the mechanisms of sulfur mustard toxicity are ongoing. Basically, sulfur mustard disrupts the interface of the epidermis and basement membrane causing blistering between the epidermis and dermis. Both immediate (immediate cell membrane damage) and delayed phases (secondary effects resulting from inflammatory responses, DNA damage, vascular leakage) have been described for sulfur mustard-induced dermal effects (Somani and Babu, 1989). Many of the toxic effects of sulfur mustard can be attributed to oxidative stress. 

Naghii, M.R. (2002). Sulfur mustard intoxication, oxidative stress, and antioxidants. Mil. Med. 167 573-5. 

Pant, S.C., Vijayaraghavan, R., Kannan, G.M., Ganesan, K. (2000). Sulfur mustard induced oxidative stress and its prevention by sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane sulfonic acid (DMPS) in mice. Biomed. Environ. Sci. 13 225-32. 

Paromov, V., Suntres, Z., Smith, M., Stone, W.L. (2007). Sulfur mustard toxicity following dermal exposure role of oxidative stress, and antioxidant therapy. J. Burns Wounds 1 7. 

A key component of sulfur mustard toxicity is the formation of a sulfonium ion and resulting episulfonium intermediate that may react with sulfhydryl-containing macromolecules. Damage may include Ca + translo-cases (Ca +-stimulated, Mg -dependent ATPase), which depend on thiol groups to maintain cellular Ca + homeostasis, and microfilamentous proteins. The resulting increase in intracellular calcium levels ultimately causes a decrease in cellular integrity and induction of apoptosis. Oxidative stress in sulfur mustard toxicity has been reviewed by Smith et al. (2008). 

Jain, A.K., Tewari-Singh, N., Gu, M., et al., 2011. Sulfur mustard analog, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide-induced skin injury involves DNA damage and induction of inflammatory mediators, in part via oxidative stress, in SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Toxicol. Lett. 205, 293-301. 

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