Evaluation of sulfur mustard effect on the methylation status of FOXP3 gene promoter in chemical victims with pulmonary delayed complications

  Sulfur mustard (SM) is a toxic and chemical agent. The incidence of pulmonary complications and inflammatory processes play an important role in SM-exposed individuals. FOXP3 is one of the important factors in the development of chronic pulmonary diseases. FOXP3 gene promoter due to exposure to chemical and toxic materials leads to chronic pulmonary disease. In this study, the effect of toxic sulfur mustard was evaluated on the promoter methylation status of FOXP3 in SM-exposed individuals with delayed pulmonary complications.

In this case-control study, 20 SM exposed cases and 20 unexposed as control were studied. DNA was extracted from blood samples. Methylation specific PCR(MSP) was used to evaluate promoter methylation status of FOXP3.

There was no significant difference between the promoter methylation status of FOXP3 in the exposed group as compared to control group.

The methylation status of the FOXP3 gene did not significantly change after exposure to sulfur mustard and other mechanisms might be involved in expressing this gene. To determine the effect of SM on methylation and its role in the pathogenesis of chemical victims’ lung complications, it is needed to measure other epigenetic factors and further studies.