Mustard lung with a unique oxidative stress profile as an independent pulmonary disease

Sulfur mustard (SM) exposure can lead to severe respiratory complications known as "mustard lung". Oxidative stress, resulting from an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of lung diseases, ultimately causing inflammation and tissue damage. This study aimed to examine the oxidative and antioxidative profiles in veterans with long-term health issues after SM exposure and compare them with profiles resembling asthma, chronic bronchitis (CB), and bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). Serum samples were analyzed for oxidative and antioxidative markers, including Protein Carbonyls (PC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Peroxide (TPX), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX), and levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione. The findings revealed that patients with mustard lung displayed a substantial increase in TPX levels, highlighting the presence of elevated oxidative stress in this group. However, some factors show the compensatory mechanism of the body to balance the oxidative stress after years of exposure to SM. Comparison of veterans with BO, CB, and asthma-like conditions with corresponding diseases, despite many similarities, exhibited distinct patterns of some oxidative factors, indicating that their oxidative stress profiles are somewhat different. Notably, disease severity in mustard lung did not significantly affect oxidative stress levels or antioxidant responses. This study suggests that "mustard lung" should be recognized as a distinct pulmonary condition with unique oxidative stress patterns. This understanding provides valuable insights into the biochemical aspects and specific treatment approaches of SM-induced respiratory conditions.