Chemical Blistering: Cellular and Macromolecular Components.

Abstract

The overall purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which bis(beta-chlorethyl)sulfide (BCES) exerts its vesicant action when applied topically to human skin. This was to be done by establishing morphological, cytochemical, and/or biochemical indicators of mustard toxicity in primary monolayer and stratified, cornified cultures of cutaneous keratinocytes and evaluating the relevance of these parameters to vesication. Experiments have shown that DNA metabolism and structure are the initial targets of BCES in both types of culture. Synthesis of DNA is inhibited and the structure of the nucleic acid is damaged by a lower level of BCES than is necessary to inhibit the synthesis of RNA or protein. Keywords: Mustard, Keratinocyte, Tissue culture, Alkylation, Toxicity, Chemical blistering, Mitochondria, Metabolism, DNA Repair, Epidermal proliferation, Epidermal differentiation. (JES)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 31, 1989
Accession Number
ADB145992

Entities

People

  • I. A. Bernstein

Organizations

  • University of Michigan

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Alkylation
  • Anatomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Cells (Biology)
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Indicators
  • Metabolism
  • Mitochondria
  • Monomolecular Films
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Tissue Culture
  • Toxicity
  • Vesicants

Readers

  • Geochemistry
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology