Molecular mechanism of nitrogen mustard induced leukocyte(s) chemotaxis.

Nitrogen mustard(s) (NM) are the primary chemotherapeutic agents (Chlorambucil, BSO) that are used in treating the B-cell chronic lymphocyte leukemia (B-CLL). It is known that NM imparts oxidative stress by inducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production in B-lymphocytes of B-CLL. It is likely that these nitrogen mustards can cause the oxidative stress in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of B-CLL patients. It is possible that chronic exposure of PBL to NM would induce drug resistance in B-CLL patients. However, the precise molecular mechanism(s) by which NM affect the PBL are not known at present. Here, an effort is made to present plausible mechanisms by which chronic NM exposure could lead to increased PBL chemotaxis and vascular tissue damage in B-CLL patients The clinical implication of this phenomenon is most likely the unwanted organ dysfunction in B-CLL patients. Identification of viable therapeutic targets to attenuate the PBL activation during the NM therapy would be beneficial for the clinical remission of B-CLL.