Serine and Cysteine Proteases in Sulfur Mustard-Exposed Hairless Mouse Skin: Enzymatic Activity and Inhibition Profiles

Inflammatory reactions associated with sulfur mustard (bis(2-chloroethyl)sulfide, SM)-induced skin pathology, including the release of potent proteolytic enzymes capable of destroying cutaneous connective tissue proteins, are not well defined in vivo. In this study, protease activities were measured as potential indicators of SM-induced skin injury in a hairless mouse sulfur mustard vapor exposure model. We also investigated the effects of...