Toxicity of mustard gas skin lesions.

Although the exact pathogenesis of mustard gas-induced dermal toxicity remains elusive, morphopathological data gathered in controlled animal and in vitro investigations is providing important clues as to approximate mechanisms. Our laboratory has been studying dermal effects of the chemical warfare agent, sulfur mustard, in a variety of animal models, cultured isolated human cells, and in vitro organotypic skin models. Published anatomical, pathological, and ultrastructural results of these studies have documented consistent cellular and basement membrane zone effects irrespective of the model. Cellular effects include the early targeting of basal cells of the stratum basale to the exclusion of other epidermal cells, with nuclear and cytoplasmic indications of cell injury and cell death. Effects on the basement membrane zone include the formation of characteristic microvesicles in the lamina lucida of those models which possessed structural components of a true basement membrane. We are now investigating effects on proteins of the basement membrane microenvironment and correlate in the present paper the morphopathology of sulfur mustard dermal lesions with immunohistochemical study of bullous pemphigoid antigen, laminin, type IV collagen, and type VII collagen.