Chlorine inhalation induces acute chest syndrome in humanized sickle cell mouse model and ameliorated by postexposure hemopexin.

Triggering factors of Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of death in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and targeted therapies are limited. Chlorine (Cl) inhalation happens frequently, but its role as a potential trigger of ACS has not been determined. In this study, we hypothesized that Cl exposure resembling that in the vicinity of industrial accidents induces acute hemolysis with acute lung injury, reminiscent of ACS in humanized SCD mice.