Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Immunology, Shahed University, 1471, North Karegar Street, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Immunoregulation Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Toxicol Lett. 2019 Sep 15;312:188-194. doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2019.05.015. Epub 2019 May 13.
Sulfur mustard (SM) is a toxic agent that causes acute and long-term pulmonary complications. Recent evidence has shown the impact of SM on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These cells have a critical role in repairing the damaged tissues. In this study, we evaluated the mobilization of MSCs in SM-exposed patients with long-term pulmonary complications. Fifty-nine SM-injured patients with prolonged pulmonary complications and 20 healthy individuals were included. Patients were classified based on taking drugs, having comorbidities, and severity of respiratory consequence. MSCs with phenotype of CD45-CD44CD29CD105 were evaluated in peripheral blood using flow cytometry. Circulating MSCs were lower in SM-exposed patients compared to the control group (0.93 vs. 2.72 respectively, P = 0.005). No significant difference was observed in the MSC count between patients taking corticosteroids or antibiotics and those patients not taking them. Comorbidities like liver and kidney diseases had changed the count of MSCs in SM-exposed subjects. In addition, the frequency of MSCs did not show any association with the severity of long-term pulmonary complications. In conclusion, SM-exposure causes a decline in the frequency of circulating MSCs in survivors. The lower number of the peripheral MSC population in SM-exposed patients was not affected by taking corticosteroids or antibiotics, but comorbidities are probably involved in MSC frequency. The decreases observed in the number of circulating MSCs was not associated with the severity of the pulmonary complications; however, further studies in mustard lung models are required to demonstrate the therapeutic or pathologic role of MSCs in SM injuries.
芥子气（SM）是一种有毒物质，可导致急性和长期肺部并发症。最近的证据表明，SM 对间充质干细胞（MSCs）有影响。这些细胞在修复受损组织方面起着至关重要的作用。在这项研究中，我们评估了 SM 暴露患者长期肺部并发症中 MSCs 的动员情况。纳入了 59 名 SM 损伤患者和 20 名健康个体，这些患者具有长期肺部并发症。根据服用药物、合并症和呼吸后果的严重程度对患者进行分类。使用流式细胞术在外周血中评估具有 CD45-CD44CD29CD105 表型的 MSC。与对照组相比，SM 暴露患者的循环 MSC 数量较低（分别为 0.93 和 2.72，P=0.005）。服用皮质类固醇或抗生素的患者与未服用皮质类固醇或抗生素的患者之间，MSC 计数没有明显差异。肝脏和肾脏疾病等合并症改变了 SM 暴露患者中 MSC 的计数。此外，MSC 频率与长期肺部并发症的严重程度没有关联。总之，SM 暴露导致幸存者循环 MSC 频率下降。SM 暴露患者外周 MSC 群体数量减少不受皮质类固醇或抗生素的影响，但合并症可能参与 MSC 频率。循环 MSC 数量的减少与肺部并发症的严重程度无关；然而，需要在芥子气肺模型中进一步研究以证明 MSCs 在 SM 损伤中的治疗或病理作用。
