Monteiro-Riviere, N.A. and A. O. Inman. Histochemical Localization of Three Basement Membrane Epitopes With Sulfur Mustard Induced Toxicity in Porcine Skin. The Toxicologist 1993. 13: 58.

sulfur mustard - 00505-60-2

Sulfur mustard [bis(2-chloroethyl sulfide] is a potent cutaneous vesicant. This study localized the site of epidermal-dermal separation by studying the distribution of three basement membrane epitopes (laminin, type IV collagen, bullous pemphigoid antigen) in sulfur mustard blisters. Gross blisters were obtained from treated isolated perfused porcine skin flaps (IPPSFs). Control skin was obtained from untreated IPPSFs and normal pigs. Indirect immunohistochemistry and indirect immunoelectron microscopy was performed using appropriate antibodies to the above epitopes. Sulfur mustard was dosed at 0.2, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/ml and samples were collected at the 10 mg/ml dose at 1,3,5 and 8 hrs. Mustard blisters were characterized by laminin bound to the lamina lucida, type IV collagen to the lamina densa, and the bullous pemphigoid antibody to the epidermis. This localizes the plane of sulfur mustard-induced epidermal-dermal cleavage to the upper portion of the lamina-lucida.