title: Sulfur mustard cutaneous injury characterization based on SKH-1 mouse model: relevance of non-invasive methods in terms of wound healing process analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, sulphur mustard (SM) cutaneous toxicity has been commonly assessed on account of several animal models such as pigs and weanling pigs. Few experiments however, have been carried out on mice so far. In this study, we aimed at quantifying spontaneous wound healing processes after SM exposure on a SKH-1 mouse model through non-invasive methods over an extended period of time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were exposed to 10 μL net SM in a vapor cup system. Measurements of barrier function (Transepidermal water loss), elasticity, skin color exposed to SM vapors were determined by evaporimetry, cutometer and image analysis on 23 animals up to 28 days. Results were subsequently correlated with histological and biochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TEWL parameter stands as a top-ranking criterion to keep track of skin barrier restoration after SM cutaneous intoxication in our SKH-1 mouse model. The R2 and R6 elasticity parameters or L° for the skin color exhibited their ability to be restored after 28 days of SM exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that bio-engineering methods are eligible to evaluate new treatments on SM-induced skin SKH-1 mouse lesions, thus making an allowance for less invasive methods such as histological, genomic or proteomic approaches.
authors: Chemical Burn Unit, Toxicology and Chemical Risk Department, Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute IRBA, 38702 La Tronche Cedex, France. cecile.clerybarraud@sfr.fr
authors: Cécile
authors: C
authors: Cléry-Barraud
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Nguon
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Vallet
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Sentenac
authors: Elise
authors: E
authors: Four
authors: Carine
authors: C
authors: Arlaud
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Coulon
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Boudry
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C522362:Mmp2 protein, mouse; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C501830:Mmp9 protein, mouse; D009151:Mustard Gas