Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a potent and mutagenic agent that targets human lung tissue.
Purpose of the study: The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the expression of sulfiredoxin-1 (SRXN1) and peroxiredoxin (PRDXs) genes and oxidative stress (OS) status in human lung after exposure to SM.
Materials and methods: Lung biopsy specimens bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were provided from SM-exposed patients (n = 6) and controls (n = 5). Changes in gene expression were measured using RT(2) Profiler PCR Array. OS was considered by measuring BAL fluid levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls (PC).
Results: Mean of MDA and PC values in BAL fluid of patients (0.6467 ± 0.05922 nmol/l and 1.391 ± 0.421 nmol/mg, respectively) was higher than in controls (0.486 ± 0.04615 nmol/l and 0.949 ± 0.149 nmol/mg, respectively). Expression of all examined genes was in the order PRDX1> PRDX3> PRDX6> SRXN1> PRDX2> PRDX4> PRDX5. Among the most upregulated genes was the PRDX1, which was overexpressed by 10.1029-fold (p = 0.000634). SM-exposed individuals demonstrated expression of PRDX3 4.6231 (p = 0.000134), PRDX6 3.4964 (p = 0.001102), SRXN1 3.3719 (p < 0.0001) and PRDX2 2.7725-folds (p = 0.000383) higher than those of controls that reveal.
Conclusions: Upregulation of PRDXs and SRXN1 genes may be because of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and OS in lung tissue of patients after SM exposure. Expression of SRXN1 and PRDXNs genes, especially I, II, III, and VI is increased in SM-injured lungs, suggesting the induction of cellular responses to increased production of ROS and OS in lung of the patients. Therefore, sulfiredoxin and peroxiredoxins can be targeted as biomarkers of OS in these patients.
Keywords: lung; malondialdehyde; oxidative stress; peroxiredoxins; protein carbonyl; sulfiredoxin-1; sulfur mustard.