title: Modulation of sulfur mustard induced cell death in human epidermal keratinocytes using IL-10 and TNF-alpha.
abstract: We compared the effects of overexpressing a tightly regulated anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10 (IL-10), and the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on sulfur mustard induced cytotoxicity in human epidermal keratinocytes. Both cytokines were overexpressed when compared with the cells transfected with the empty vector as determined by quantitative ELISA. Cells overexpressing interleukin 10 suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 8 and interleukin 6 following exposure to 50-300 microM sulfur mustard. These cells exhibited delayed onset of sulfur mustard induced cell death. On the other hand, cells overexpressing tumor necrosis factor alpha induced a sustained elevation in both interleukin 6 and 8 expression following exposure to 50-300 microM sulfur mustard. These cells were sensitized to the effects of sulfur mustard that resulted in an increased sulfur mustard induced cell death. Normal human epidermal keratinocytes treated with sulfur mustard exhibited elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha expression and increased activity of nuclear factor kappa B. Gene array data indicated that cells overexpressing interleukin 10 induced several genes that are involved in growth promotion and cell-fate determination. We, therefore, identify IL-10 and TNF-alpha signal transduction pathways and their components as possible candidates for early therapeutic intervention against sulfur mustard induced cell injury.
authors.affiliation: US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, 3100 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010, USA. aziz.qabar@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qabar
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Juanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corun
authors.forename: Bor-Jang
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D009151:Mustard Gas