A Murine Model of Vesicant-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Burn injuries including those caused by chemicals can result in systemic effects and acute lung injury (ALI). Cutaneous exposure to Lewisite, a warfare and chemical burn agent, also causes ALI. To overcome the limitations in conducting direct research on Lewisite-induced ALI in a laboratory setting, an animal model was developed using phenylarsine oxide (PAO) as a surrogate for Lewisite. Due to lack of a reliable animal model mimicking the effects of such exposures, development of effective therapies to treat such injuries is challenging. We demonstrated that a single cutaneous exposure to PAO resulted in disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier as evidenced by elevated protein levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). BALF supernatant of PAO-exposed animals had increased levels of high mobility group box 1, a damage associated molecular pattern molecule. Arterial blood-gas measurements showed decreased pH, increased PaCO₂, and decreased partial pressure of arterial O₂, indicative of respiratory acidosis, hypercapnia, and hypoxemia. Increased protein levels of interleukin (IL)-6, CXCL-1, CXCL-2, CXCL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, CXCL-10, leukemia inhibitory factor, leptin, IL-18, CCL-2, CCL-3, and CCL-7 were observed in the lung of PAO-exposed mice. Further, vascular endothelial growth factor levels were reduced in the lung. Pulmonary function evaluated using a flexiVent showed a downward shift in the pressure-volume loop, decreases in static compliance and inspiratory capacity, increases in respiratory elastance and tissue elastance. These changes are consistent with an ALI phenotype. These results demonstrate that cutaneous PAO exposure leads to ALI and that the model can be used as an effective surrogate to investigate vesicant-induced ALI. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study presents a robust model for studying ALI resulting from cutaneous exposure to PAO, a surrogate for the toxic vesicating agent Lewisite. The findings in this study mimic the effects of cutaneous Lewisite exposure, providing a reliable model for investigating mechanisms underlying toxicity. The model can also be used to develop medical countermeasures to mitigate ALI associated with cutaneous Lewisite exposure.