title: Effect of sulfur mustard on murine lymphocytes.
abstract: The effect on spleen cells of a single in vivo treatment with sulfur mustard was analyzed in mice 1 week after intoxication. A marked decrease in the number of total spleen cells was observed in mice receiving high doses of sulfur mustard. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that B-lymphocytes were relatively more affected than T-lymphocytes by this toxic compound. However, the function of remaining B-cells, measured by thymidine incorporation and immunoglobulin secretion in the presence of lipopolysaccharide, was not significantly impaired. In addition, sulfur mustard did not depress T-lymphocyte function since their proliferation in response to concanavalin A or to an anti-CD3 antibody was not affected by the treatment. These results suggest that whereas some observations reported in patients can be found in a murine model, additional in vitro studies with human lymphocytes could more adequately provide further information on sulfur-mustard-induced alterations of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Coutelier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lison
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willems
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009151:Mustard Gas; D013936:Thymidine