Extracellular nucleic acid scavenging rescues rats from sulfur mustard analog-induced lung injury and mortality.

ABSTRACT: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a highly toxic war chemical that causes significant morbidity and mortality and lacks any effective therapy. Rats exposed to aerosolized CEES (2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide; 10% in ethanol), an analog of SM, developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is characterized by increased inflammation, hypoxemia and impaired gas exchange. We observed elevated levels of extracellular nucleic acids (eNA) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of CEES-exposed animals. eNA can induce inflammation, coagulation and barrier dysfunction. Treatment with hexadimethrine bromide (HDMBr; 10 mg/kg), an eNA neutralizing agent, 2 h post-exposure, reduced lung injury, inhibited disruption of alveolar-capillary barrier, improved blood oxygenation (PaO₂/FiO_2</

SUBMITTER: Mariappan N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7230031 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature