Nitrogen mustard exposure of murine skin induces DNA damage, oxidative stress and activation of MAPK/Akt-AP1 pathway leading to induction of inflammatory and proteolytic mediators.

•Nitrogen mustard (NM) exposure in mice causes DNA damage and oxidative stress.•NM exposure caused mainly a bi-phasic response in the activation of MAPKs and Akt.•NM-induced induction of MAPKs led to the activation of transcription factor AP1.•NM triggered an increase in the expression of COX-2, iNOS and MMP-9.•Activation of above pathways by NM caused skin injury response in mice.