title: Biological fate of sulphur mustard, 1,1'-thiobis(2-chloroethane): identification of beta-lyase metabolites and hydrolysis products in human urine.
abstract: 1. Samples of urine from two human subjects accidentally exposed to sulphur mustard were analysed for metabolites derived from hydrolysis (thiodiglycol, thiodiglycol sulphoxide), conjugation with glutathione (1,1'-sulphonylbis [2-S-(N-acetylcysteinyl)ethane]) and from further metabolism of glutathione conjugates by the beta-lyase pathway (1,1-sulphonylbis[2-(methylsulphinyl)ethane], 1-methylsulphinyl-2-[2-(methylthio)ethylsulphonyl]ethane). 2. Thiodiglycol sulphoxide was excreted in much higher concentrations than thiodiglycol, as was observed previously in rat exposed to sulphur mustard. However, the use of thiodiglycol sulphoxide as a biological marker for sulphur mustard poisoning is limited by its presence at low concentrations in normal human urine. 3. beta-lyase metabolites were detected at concentrations comparable with those of thiodiglycol sulphoxide. No background levels of beta-lyase metabolites have been detected in normal human urine, and they are proposed as unequivocal diagnostic and forensic indicators of sulphur mustard poisoning in man.
authors.affiliation: Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D001711:Biotransformation; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008190:Lyases / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013454:Sulfoxides; C073450:2,2'-sulfinylbisethanol; C047519:2,2'-thiodiethanol; D008190:Lyases; D009151:Mustard Gas