Effects of Sulfur Mustard on Cytokines Released from Cultured Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

Abstract

The release of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α was measured from epiderm alkeratinocytes in an attempt to characterize the immunologic response in keratinocytes following exposure to bis (2-chloroethyl)sulfide (sulfur mustard, HD). Enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) was used to measure cytokine levels in adult and neonatal culture human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) 3 h after exposure to 0.50 and 1.0 m M HD. A two-way analysis of variance was carried out for cell type and HD concentration. That analysis showed significant differences between cell types for IL-1α and IL-1β(p =.001 and p =.015, respectively). In both of these cytokines, release in neonatal HEK decreased less than in adult HEK. A significant effectof HD concentration was shown only for IL-1β (P <.001), with cytokine release decreasing with increasing HD dose. In addition, a significant cell donor type by HD concentration interaction effect was found for IL-1β under the experimental conditions described in materials and methods. With increasing HD concentration, the relative decrease in cytokine release was much greater for adult than for neonatal HEK.