ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Noorani   M. R. (1 )
Mir Bagheri   L. (2 )
Ebrahimi   M. (1 )
Yazdani   S. (1 )
Imani Fooladi   A. A. (* )






(* ) Research Center of Molecular Biology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(1 ) Genomics Laboratory, Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Mdical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
(2 ) Biochemistry Department, Sciences & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

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ABSTRACT

Aims Sulfur mustard, has been employed as a chemical weapon in imposed war against Iranian troops. At the present time there are more than 40000 people suffering from pulmonary lesions especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to mustard gas in Iran. Sulfur mustard increases the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species. The toxicity of oxidative stress reduces by antioxidants and there is adequate evidence that antioxidants play a role in cellular protection against oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of Glutathione S-transferase, an important free radical detoxification molecule which is found in human airways.
Materials & Methods In this experimental study in year 1388, 4 normal and 8 sulfur mustard induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients’ bronchial biopsy were taken. The samples were fixed in praformaldehyde and cut in 20 micrometer slices by cryostat and then GSTp1 expression was compared using immunohistochemistry methods.
Results All Sulfur mustard exposed samples were immune-negative for Glutathione S-transferase antibodies compared to control samples which expressed high amounts of it.
Conclusion Results revealed that antioxidant expression is dramatically down-regulated in these patients. This antioxidant may play an important role in cellular protection against oxidative stress and its down-regulation due to mustard gas toxicity may be the cause of exacerbation and persistence of airway disease in these patients.


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