CXCL10 Gene Expression in the Lung Tissue of Sulfur Mustard-Exposed Patients with Long-Term Pulmonary Complications

Aims: Mustard gas is an alkalizing substance that can lead to damage to DNA and intracellular enzymes. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of CXCL10 in chemically-injured veterans’ lung tissue.  Materials & Methods: This case-control study was done on 16 lung paraffin blocks of individuals exposed to mustard gas and 7 lungs paraffin blocks not-exposed people as control group and with similar chronic pulmonary disorders in 2014. Real-Time PCR technique was used to measureCXCL10 expression in lung tissue. To measure the relative expression of genes CT Delta method was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 software and Mann-Whitney test. Findings: Mean Delta CT of veteran samples was 7.37±3.58 and control group was 5.81±3.29 and no significant difference was observed between 2 groups and between exposed and non-exposed subgroups (p>0.05). CXCL10 gene expression pattern was same in exposed and not-exposed group with similar pulmonary pathology. Conclusion: The level and pattern of CXCL10 expression is not different in lung tissue of two exposed and not-exposed with similar pulmonary pathology groups.