Antioxidant liposomes protect against CEES-induced lung injury by decreasing SAF-1/MAZ-mediated inflammation in the guinea pig lung

We reported earlier in a guinea pig model that exposure of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a mustard gas analog, causes lung injury associated with the activation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling, and activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Our earlier studies also revealed that antioxidant liposomes can be used as antidotes. Proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, either alone or in combination, can induce the activation of another group of transcription factors, namely SAF-1 (serum accelerator factor-1)/MAZ (Myc-associated zinc finger protein). Phosphorylation of SAF-1 via MAPK markedly increases its DNA-binding and transactivational potential. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether CEES exposure causes activation of IL-1 beta, IL-6, and SAF-1/MAZ and whether these effects can be prevented by antioxidant liposomes. A single dose (200 microL) of the antioxidant liposome mixture was administered intratracheally after 5 min of exposure of CEES (0.5 mg/kg). The animals were sacrificed either 1 h or 30 days after CEES exposure. CEES exposure caused an upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1 beta in the lung along with an increase in the activation of transcription factor SAF-1/MAZ. The antioxidant liposomes treatment significantly blocked the CEES-induced activation of IL-6, IL-1 beta, and SAF-1/MAZ. This might suggest that antioxidant liposomes might offer a potential therapeutic strategy against inflammatory diseases associated with activation of these bioactive molecules.