Neurotoxic Esterase: Not So Toxic?

Details

• Personal Author:
  O'Callaghan JP
• Description:
  Although of recent concern because of their use as chemical warfare agents, organophosphates have long been used as pesticides. As a class of compounds, organophosphate esters are widely recognized for their potential to inhibit serine-containing esterases owing to phosphorylation of serine residues at the active site of these enzymes, the most notable of which is acetylcholinesterase. Most features of the acute toxicity of these compounds (used as nerve gas or as pesticides) relate to their inhibition of this enzyme. A less well known feature of some organophosphates is their propensity to cause a delayed neuropathy that has been termed organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN; ref. 1). OPIDN is a progressive neurological condition characterized by weakness, ataxia and subsequent paralysis of the limbsl.2. The major neuropathological hallmarks of OPIDN are degeneration of the long axons of the spinal cord and peripheral neurons, although assessments of neurotoxicity using sensitive stains for neurodegeneration show that selected regions of the brain are also involved3. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemical Warfare Agents Esters Hazardous Substances Insecticides Nervous System Occupational Health Organophosphates Safety
• Keywords:
  Chemical-warfare-agents Neurotoxic-effects Neurotoxicity Neurotoxicology Neurotoxins Organo-phosphorus-compounds Pesticides Toxic-effects Toxins
• ISSN:
  1061-4036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  437-438
• Volume:
  33
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20022981
• Citation:
  Nat Genet 2003 Apr; 33(4):437-438
• Contact Point Address:
  James P. O'Callaghan, Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
• Email:
  jdo5@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Nature Genetics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:87cd3821eed77fd1c6ddb9a1f661a72ff4791dece12e422635ba2c1098c03229ce22b94162eb93b20c781aa2c2e1452b9d9e840b0d817727465a654affb36310
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199581/cdc_199581_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 70.76 KB ]