Alterations in the serum levels of chemokines 20 years after sulfur mustard exposure: Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study.

The serum levels of four important and well characterized inflammatory chemokines including MCP-1/CCL2, RANTES/CCL5, IL-8/CXCL8 and Fractalkine/CX3CL1 were evaluated in sulfur mustard (SM) exposed Iranian population 20 years after exposure. In this historical cohort study 372 SM exposed participants from Sardasht, and 128 unexposed participants as controls were studied. The serum concentrations of chemokines were measured by a sandwich ELISA technique. The serum concentrations in the exposed comparing to the control group were 201.86 vs 180.60 pg/ml (p=0.002), for MCP-1/CCL2, 1182.6 vs 1393.1pg/ml (p=0.021) for RANTES/CCL5, 12.61 vs 15 pg/ml (p=0.002) for IL-8/CXCL8 and 0.696 vs 0.0648 (p=0.413) for Fractalkine/CX3CL1. In conclusion, elevated levels of MCP-1/CCL2 may suggest an anti inflammatory response and decreased levels of IL-8/CXCL8 and RANTES/CCL5 may represent a different pathophysiology and diverse molecular mechanisms involved in long term clinical manifestations of SM exposure. However, further prospect into their role in the pathogenesis of SM remains to be done.

Association of physical activity and IL-10 levels 20 years after sulfur mustard exposure: Sardasht-Iran cohort study.

IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that is important in the regulation of inflammatory processes in different conditions. Sulfur mustard (SM) intoxicated patients are suffering from different inflammatory diseases in their lung, skin and eyes. Physical activity (PA) is reported to control inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory and inducing anti-inflammatory cytokines. Our previous study revealed lower PA and more sedentary lifestyle among SM exposed population. This study aimed to determine the relationship of PA with IL-10 production in SM exposed subjects. Baseline, mitogen-induced and the serum levels of IL-10 were evaluated. In a historical cohort study, Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study (SICS), 372 SM exposed participants were studied 20 years after exposure and were compared with 128 unexposed control participants. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ; developed by WHO) was used to obtain a self-reported measure of physical activity. Whole blood culture supernatants and serum samples were used for IL-10 measurement by ELISA technique. In both the control and exposed groups mitogen-induced IL-10 production was significantly elevated with severity of PA intensity (p<0.05). In the control subjects with moderate PA intensity, the mitogen-induced IL-10 production was higher than the corresponding in the exposed group (p<0.05). In the exposed group, mitogen-induced IL-10 production had significant positive correlation with total PA, total transport PA, total recreational PA and total moderate intensity work (p<0.05). The positive relationship between high PA and the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 indicates a need to encourage a more active lifestyle among the SM exposed subjects who have various inflammatory complications.