Microarray analysis of gene expression in murine skin exposed to sulfur mustard

✍ Scribed by James V. Rogers; Young W. Choi; Robyn C. Kiser; Michael C. Babin; Robert P. Casillas; John J. Schlager; Carol L. K. Sabourin

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 99 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1095-6670
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.20043

✦ Synopsis

The chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard [bis-(2-chloroethyl)-sulfide; SM] produces a delayed inflammatory response followed by blister formation in skin of exposed individuals. Studies are underway evaluating the efficacy of pharmacological compounds to protect against SM skin injury. Microarray analysis provides the opportunity to identify multiple transcriptional biomarkers associated with SM exposure. This study examined SM-induced changes in gene expression in skin from mice cutaneously exposed to SM using cDNA microarrays. Ear skin from five mice, paired as SM-exposed right ear and dichloromethane vehicle-exposed left ear at six dose levels (0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 mg; 6 mM to 195 mM range), was harvested at 24 h post-exposure. SM-induced gene expression was analyzed using cDNA microarrays that included 1,176 genes. Genes were selected on the basis of all mice (N = 5) in the same dose group demonstrating a ≥2-fold increase or decrease in gene expression for the SM-exposed tissue compared to the dichloromethane vehicle control ear tissue at all six SM doses. When skin exposed to all six concentrations of SM was compared to controls, a total of 19 genes within apoptosis, transcription factors, cell cycle, inflammation, and oncogenes and tumor suppressors categories were found to be upregulated; no genes were observed

The view, opinions and/or findings contained in this report are those of the authors(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy or decision unless so designated by other documentation.