The primary objective of this study was to determine whether administration of AEOL 10150, a patented, small molecule catalytic antioxidant, reduces the severity of acute lung injury induced by mustard gas exposure. AEOL 10150 was given to rats one hour after CEES (2-chloroethyl-ethylsulfide) exposure and again nine hours later. Eighteen hours after exposure, lung edema and hemorrhage were assessed by changes in the bronchoalveolar lavage protein and red blood cell levels.
AEOL 10150 significantly reduced (p<0.05) mustard gas-induced lung edema and hemorrhage as measured by bronchoalveolar lavage lactate dehydrogenase activity, protein levels, IgM levels and cellularity. These results indicate that AEOL 10150 rescues the lung from mustard gas exposure and may provide an effective countermeasure against mustard gas-induced lung injury. Another primary objective of this study was to determine whether administration of AEOL 10150 reduces the severity of skin injury induced by mustard gas exposure. AEOL 10150 was given to hairless mice (topically) one hour after CEES exposure and again nine hours later. Eighteen hours after exposure, skin damage was assessed by changes in skin fold thickness. These results suggest that topical application of AEOL 10150 rescues the skin from CEES-induced skin injury and may provide an effective countermeasure against mustard gas-induced skin injury.