title: Loss of expression of TGF-βs and their receptors in chronic skin lesions induced by sulfur mustard as compared with chronic contact dermatitis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sulfur mustard (SM) is a blister-forming agent that has been used as a chemical weapon. Sulfur mustard can cause damage in various organs, especially the skin, respiratory system, and eyes. Generally, the multiple complications of mustard gas result from its alkalizing potency; it reacts with cellular components like DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipid membranes.TGF-β is a multi-functional cytokine with multiple biological effects ranging from cell differentiation and growth inhibition to extracellular matrix stimulation, immunosuppression, and immunomodulation. TGF-β has 3 isoforms (TGF-β 1, 2, 3) and its signaling is mediated by its receptors: R1, R2 and intracellular Smads molecules.TGF-β has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. TGF-βs and their receptors also have an important role in modulation of skin inflammation, proliferation of epidermal cells, and wound healing, and they have been implicated in different types of skin inflammatory disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen exposed SM individuals (48.47 ± 9.3 years), 17 chronic dermatitis patients (46.52 ± 14.6 years), and 5 normal controls (44.00 ± 14.6 years) were enrolled in this study.Evaluation of TGF-βs and their receptors expressions was performed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Only TGF1 was analyzed immunohistochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed significant decreases in the expression percentages of TGF-β 1, 2 and R1, R2 in chemical victims in comparison with chronic dermatitis and normal subjects and significant decreases in the intensity of R1 and R2 expressions in chemical victims in comparison with chronic dermatitis and normal controls. (P value < 0.05)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-βs and their receptors appear to have a noticeable role in chronic inflammatory skin lesions caused by sulfur mustard.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Injury Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khaheshi
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.forename: Abbas Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Imani Fooladi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.forename: Yunes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shohrati
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nourani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002618:Chemical Warfare; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics; D007492:Iran; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D007509:Irritants; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; C509041:TGFB2 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D009151:Mustard Gas