Association of sick building syndrome with neuropathy target esterase (NTE) activity in Japanese

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a set of several clinically recognizable symptoms reported by occupants of a building without a clear cause. Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is a membrane bound serine esterase and its reaction with organophosphates (OPs) can lead to OP‐induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) and nerve axon degeneration. The aim of our study was to determine whether there was a difference in NTE activity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Japanese patients with SBS and healthy controls and whether PNPLA6 (alias NTE) gene polymorphisms were associated with SBS. We found that the enzymatic activity of NTE was significantly higher (P < 0.0005) in SBS patients compared with controls. Moreover, population with an AA genotype of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs480208, in intron 21 of the PNPLA6 gene strongly reduced the activity of NTE. Fifty‐eight SNP markers within the PNPLA6 gene were tested for association in a case–control study of 188 affected individuals and 401 age‐matched controls. Only one SNP, rs480208, was statistically different in genotype distribution (P = 0.005) and allele frequency (P = 0.006) between the cases and controls (uncorrected for testing multiple SNP sites), but these were not significant by multiple corrections. The findings of the association between the enzymatic activity of NTE and SBS in Japanese show for the first time that NTE activity might be involved with SBS. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 1217–1226, 2014.     

Local application of neuropathic organophosphorus compounds to hen sciatic nerve: inhibition of neuropathy target esterase and peripheral neurological impairments.

Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP), mipafox, cresylsaligenyl phosphate, and phenylsaligenyl phosphate were applied to a 1.5-cm segment of the common trunk of the sciatic nerve in adult hens. At doses of 18-182 micrograms mipafox and 9-110 micrograms DFP, inhibition of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) for the treated segment was over 80%, whereas for the adjacent distal and proximal segments inhibition was under 40%, 15 min after application. NTE was not affected in the peripheral distal terminations arising from the common sciatic nerve (peroneal branches), contralateral sciatic nerve, brain, and spinal cord. A 24-hr study suggested a displacement of the activity-free region toward more distal segments of the nerve. All animals treated with 55 and 110 micrograms DFP or 110 micrograms mipafox lost a characteristic avian retraction reflex in the treated leg 9-15 days after dosing, suggesting peripheral neurological alterations. Only hens dosed at the maximum dose in both extremities presented alterations in motility (Grade 1 or 2 on a 0-8 scale), suggesting no significant central nervous system alterations. Electron microscopy of peroneal branches showed axon swelling and accumulation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum similar to animals dosed systemically (s.c.) with 1-2 mg/kg DFP. The branches also contained granular and electron-dense materials, as well as some intraaxonal and intramyelinic vacuolization. Clinical effects were not observed in animals protected with a 30 mg/kg (s.c.) dose of phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride. It is concluded that the peripheral neurological effects of local dosing correlate with the specific modification of NTE in a segment of sciatic nerve and that the axon is a more likely target than the perikaryon or nerve terminal in the triggering mechanism of this axonopathy.     

Phenyl di-n-pentylphosphinate: a convenient reactivatible inhibitor for studies on neuropathy target esterase (NTE) and protection against organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy

Phenyl di-n-pentylphosphinate was synthesised by interaction of phenyl phosphorodichloridate and n-pentyl magnesium bromide. The product was purified by silica chromatography (yield 25%). Although much more stable at physiological pH than its 4-nitrophenyl analogue, this ester is a good inhibitor of neuropathy target esterase (NTE): kappa a = 1.7 X 10(5) M-1 min-1. It is a very weak anticholinesterase (kappa a congruent to 10 M-1 min-1). In vivo only 5-10 mg/kg is required to inhibit hen brain and spinal cord NTE. The inhibited NTE can be reactivated fully by incubation in vitro with iso-nitrosoacetophenone (INAP) (19 mM at 37 degrees C and pH 8.5 for 60 min): this property enables study to be made of the fate of inhibited NTE in vivo.     

Interaction of methamidophos with hen and human acetylcholinesterase and neuropathy target esterase

Methamidophos causes acute cholinergic toxicity in several species, including man, and organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy which has been reported in man but not in the hen. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and neuropathy target esterase (NTE) are thought to be the molecular targets of acute and delayed toxicity, respectively. The rate constants of inhibition (k_a) and reactivation (k₊₃) of human and hen brain AChE and NTE by methamidophos resolved optical isomers are here reported. NTE inhibition was progressive and irreversible. Human and hen NTE k_a (M^–1·m^–1) ford-(+) methamidophos was 88 and 59, respectively, and forl-(–) methamidophos 3.2 and 3.0, respectively. AChE spontaneously reactivates after inhibition.d-(+) methamidophos 10^–3·k_a (M^–1·m^–1) for human and hen AChE was 0.24 and 0.13; 10³·k₊₃ (m^–1) was 0.83 and 0.69, respectively,l-(–) Methamidophos 10^–3·k_a (M^–1·m^–1) for human and hen AChE was 5.7 and 2.8, whereas 10³ · k₊₃ (m^–1) was 6.50 and 1.52, respectively.l-(–)-Inhibited AChE reactivated to about 60% for human and 30% for hen enzymes, respectively.d-(+)-Inhibited AChE reactivated to about 10–20% for both species. Maximal reactivation occurred within 4–6 h when a plateau was reached. The larger and faster reactivation of human AChE inhibited in vitro byl-(–) methamidophos suggests that a corresponding effect might be possible in vivo and therefore explain, in part, the relatively higher susceptibility of man to delayed polyneuropathy induced by racemic methamidophos which occurs, however, with doses always causing severe cholinergic toxicity.Part of this work was presented at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, held in Miami FL, USA, February 1990.     

Interaction of phosphamidon with neuropathy target esterase and acetylcholinesterase of hen brain

Phosphamidon (PSM) is an organophosphorus insecticide widely used in agriculture. This study was undertaken to examine the interaction of PSM with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and neuropathy target esterase (NTE) of hen brain in vitro and in vivo. PSM was a potent inhibitor of AChE, with an I₅₀ of 2.9μM and second-order rate constant (k_a) of 1.2×10⁴ M^?1 min^?1 at 37°C. PSM-inhibited AChE aged rapidly (t_1/2=1.9h). Pyridinium oximes pralidoxime, trimedoxime, obidoxime and HI-6 were effective reactivators of PSM-inhibited AChE, providing up to 75% reactivation. PSM was one of the weakest inhibitors of NTE among organophosphorus compounds, with an I₅₀ of 19 mM and k_a of 1.8 M^?1 min^?1 at 37°C. Inhibited NTE did not reactivate spontaneously and KF-induced reactivation was not obtained even at the earliest tested moments, so it was not clear whether aging of PSM-inhibited NTE occurred very quickly or the KF molecule could not affect the stability of phosphoryl-NTE bond. From the ratio of k_as for NTE and AChE (0.00015) it was predicted that delayed neuropathic effects of PSM in vivo would appear only at doses far above the acute LD₅₀. The LD₅₀ value of PSM p.o. for hens was 9 mg/kg. Hens were treated with a single oral dose of PSM, combined with standard antidotal treatment which included atropine, physostigmine, pralidoxime and anticonvulsant midazolam. Doses of 90 and 250 mg/kg caused up to 27% and 45% NTE inhibition 48h after poisoning, respectively. Clinical signs of neuropathy were not seen up to 25 days after treatment, which could be expected, since the proposed level (>70%) of NTE inhibition necessary for the occurrence of delayed neuropathy was not achieved. The results suggest that PSM, at doses tested, has no ability to cause delayed neuropathy in hens without showing signs of severe cholinergic intoxication.     

Biosensor detection of neuropathy target esterase in whole blood as a biomarker of exposure to neuropathic organophosphorus compounds

Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is the target protein for neuropathic organophosphorus (OP) compounds that produce OP compound-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN). Inhibition/aging of brain NTE within hours of exposure predicts the potential for development of OPIDN in susceptible animal models. Lymphocyte NTE has also found limited use as a biomarker of human exposure to neuropathic OP compounds. Recently, a highly sensitive biosensor was developed for NTE activity using a tyrosinase carbon-paste electrode for amperometric detection of phenol produced by hydrolysis of the substrate, phenyl valerate. The I50 (20 min at 37 degrees C) for N,N'-di-2-propylphosphorodiamidofluoridate (mipafox) against hen lymphocyte NTE was 6.94 +/- 0.28 microM amperometrically and 6.02 +/- 0.71 microM colorimetrically. For O,O-di1-propyl O-2,2-dichlorvinyl phosphate (PrDChVP), the I50 against hen brain NTE was 39 +/- 8 nM amperometrically and 42 +/- 2 nM colorimetrically. The biosensor enables NTE to be assayed in whole blood, whereas this cannot be done with the usual colorimetric method. Amperometrically, I50 values for PrDChVP against hen and human blood NTE were 66 +/- 3 and 70 +/- 14 nM, respectively. To study the possibility of using blood NTE inhibition as a biochemical marker of neuropathic OP compound exposure, NTE activities in brain and lymphocytes as well in brain and blood were measured 24 h after dosing hens with PrDChVP. Brain, lymphocyte, and blood NTE were inhibited in a dose-responsive manner, and NTE inhibition was highly correlated between brain and lymphocyte (r = .994) and between brain and blood (r = .997). The results suggest that the biosensor NTE assay for whole blood could serve as a biomarker of exposure to neuropathic OP compounds as well as a predictor of OPIDN and an adjunct to its early diagnosis.     

In vitro and in vivo assessment of the effect of impurities and chirality on methamidophos-induced neuropathy target esterase aging.

In vitro and in vivo studies evaluated neuropathy target esterase (NTE) inhibition and aging (i.e., loss of reactivation potential) by analytical and technical grade racemic and resolved L-(-) and D-(+) isomers of methamidophos (O,S-dimethyl phosphoramidothioate). For studies in vitro, microsomal protein from phenobarbital-induced livers was isolated from chick embryos and NTE inhibition assays were performed using chick embryo brain homogenate treated with 1 or 5 mM methamidophos (with and without metabolic enzymes); for studies in vivo, hens received 30 to 35 mg/kg methamidophos injected into the pectoral muscle. NTE aging in hens was assessed 24 h later or after 30 min to 1 h incubation in vitro using solutions of potassium fluoride (KF) reactivator. Technical methamidophos produced significantly higher levels of aged-inhibited NTE than analytical methamidophos or isolated optical isomers. In vivo, technical methamidophos produced 61% total NTE inhibition with 18% aged and 43% unaged NTE; hens receiving analytical grade averaged 6% aged, 52% unaged, and 58% total NTE inhibition. Results for 1 mM analytical methamidophos in vitro were 5% aged, 54% unaged, and 59% total inhibition; for 1 mM technical methamidophos, values averaged 11% aged, 50% unaged, and 60% total NTE inhibition. The degree of NTE aging obtained both in vivo and in vitro for the isolated D-(+) and L-(-) isomers never exceeded that obtained using analytical grade. These data indicate that impurities in methamidophos could contribute to OPIDN potential. The in vitro methodology described could be applied to first tier screening for detection of NTE inhibition and aging, thus reducing the need for whole-animal testing for OPIDN.     

Interaction of the four stereoisomers of soman (pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate) with acetylcholinesterase and neuropathy target esterase of hen brain

Dilute solutions in cold dry ethyl acetate of 98-100% pure specimens of each of the four stereoisomers of soman were tested against enzymes in hen brain homogenate at 37 degrees and pH 8.0. Rate constants for progressive inhibition of acetylcholinesterase were 10(7)-10(8)/mole/min for both P(-) isomers and less than 10(5) for both P(+) isomers. All isomers inhibited neuropathy target esterase non-progressively to some degree. Rate constants for progressive inhibition of neuropathy target esterase were 2.7-3.8 X 10(5)/mole/min for C(-) P(+) and 2-6 X 10(4) for the others. Forced reactivation by KF was 90% initially and aging was slow in each case. Spontaneous reactivation of inhibited neuropathy target esterase was substantial during 18 hr for both P(-) isomers but not for P(+). By comparison of rate constants for the two enzymes we predict that pure P(+) isomers may cause delayed neuropathy in hens dosed at about unprotected LD50: prophylaxis and therapy against acute cholinergic effects would have to raise LD50 1000-fold before birds could tolerate potentially neuropathic doses of P(-) isomers.     

Low non-neuropathic tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) doses inhibit neuropathy target esterase near the neuropathic threshold in n-hexane pretreated hens

Simultaneous intoxication with hexacarbon solvents and organophosphorus compounds has been considered a possible critical factor in some occupational neuropathies and their interactions proved to cause potentiation effects in hens [1-3]. A high degree of inhibition of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is needed to develop organophosphorus induced polyneuropathy (OPIDP). In this work, the inhibition of NTE, BuChE and AChE by TOCP on control and n-hexane pretreated (7-15 days, 300 mg/kg per day) hens is studied. Using a single TOCP dose of 200 mg/kg, n-hexane pretreated hens showed synergistic effects, but no significant differences were observed in the inhibition of cholinesterases and NTE in brain or spinal cord. With lower TOCP dose (20 mg/kg) statistically significant differences were observed, which were not drastic but could be important because they involved an increase of inhibition up to critical threshold values (from 40-50% to 60-70% inhibition). However, no clinical effects were observed in these animals. Possible mechanisms of neurotoxic interaction are discussed.     

Sensitivity and selectivity of compounds interacting with neuropathy target esterase. Further structure-activity studies

Assay of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) which accounts for about 70% of paraoxon-resistant phenyl valerate (PV) esterase activity of hen brain depends on the fact that it is selectively inhibited by mipafox. A previous study of structure/activity relationships (Biochem. Pharmac. 24, 797, 1975) has been extended. Among 14 potential substrates NTE hydrolysed phenyl phenoxyacetate and phenyl thiophenoxyacetate faster (1.5-1.7X) than PV, but selectivity of these substrates for NTE among the paraoxon-resistant esterases was only 35-52%. Seventy-seven other potential inhibitors (organophosphates, phosphonates, phosphoramidates, phosphinates and carbamates) were examined to determine I50NTE and effects on both NTE and "non-NTE" at 3-4 x I50NTE (I 85-95) and, where possible, at 6-20 X I50NTE. Hydrophophic inhibitors with small/flexible leaving groups were generally very inhibitory: several 2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphates and fluorides were active at low nanomolar concentrations. In the dichlorovinyl phosphate series increasing dialkyl chain length beyond n-pentyl decreased inhibitory power, presumably due to steric hindrance since the methyl/n-decyl ester was 15X more active than di-n-decyl. Chloro-substitution of both ortho-positions of a phenyl leaving group for benzylcarbamates reduced inhibitory power more than 20X but had little effect in a phenyl leaving group of methyl phenylphosphonates where the acyl-leaving group bond is longer and less subject to steric hindrance. N-phenylbenzohydroxamyl benzylcarbamate is 10X more potent than any previously described carbamate against NTE. Among stereo-isomers differences of activity ranged from less than 2- to 15-fold. Only diphenylphosphinyl fluoride appeared to be virtually specific for NTE: at 0.5-1 microM it inhibited ca.92% of NTE and 10-13% of "non-NTE" which is similar to the specificity found for 2,6-dichlorophenyl methyl phenylphosphonate which has been claimed to be specific. Diphenylphosphinyl fluoride has an advantage in that it is easily synthesized and should be protective rather than neuropathic, but it is not stable in store. We cannot repeat experiments purporting to show a substantial proportion of a second isozyme of NTE. However, according to first-order kinetics, concentrations of inhibitor greater than 6 X I50 should inhibit NTE greater than 98% and for 19 out of 26 compounds a residue greater than 3% (limit of precision) was found under these conditions: in nearly every case the quantity was 3-5%. This quantity may not be "true NTE" but it cannot be the target for organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy since it is resistant to various neuropathic and protective compounds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Relative inhibitory potencies of chlorpyrifos oxon,chlorpyrifos methyl oxon,and mipafox for acetylcholinesterase versus neuropathy target esterase

The relative inhibitory potency (RIP) of an organophosphorus (OP) inhibitor against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) versus neuropathy target esterase (NTE) may be defined as the ratio [k(i)(AChE)/k(i)(NTE)], where k(i) is the bimolecular rate constant of inhibition for a given inhibitor against each enzyme. RIPs greater than 1 correlate with the inability of ageable OP inhibitors or their parent compounds to produce OP compound-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) at doses below the LD50. The RIP for chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO) is >1 for enzymes from hen brain homogenate, and the parent compound, chlorpyrifos (CPS), cannot produce OPIDN in hens at sublethal doses. This study was carried out to test the hypothesis that the RIP for the methyl homologue of CPO, chlorpyrifos methyl oxon (CPMO), is >1 and greater than the RIP for CPO. Mipafox (MIP), an OP compound known to produce OPIDN, was included for comparison. Hen brain microsomes were used as the enzyme source, and k(i) values (mean +/- SE, microM(-1) min(-1)) were determined for AChE and NTE (n = 3 and 4 separate experiments, respectively). The k(i) values for CPO, CPMO, and MIP against AChE were 17.8 +/- 0.3, 10.9 +/- 0.1, and 0.00429 +/- 0.00001, respectively, and for NTE were 0.0993 +/- 0.0049, 0.0582 +/- 0.0013, and 0.00498 +/- 0.00006, respectively. Corresponding RIPs for CPO, CPMO, and MIP were 179 +/- 9, 187 +/- 4, and 0.861 +/- 0.011, respectively. The results demonstrate that RIPs for CPO and CPMO are comparable, markedly different from that for MIP, and >1, indicating that CPS methyl, like CPS, could not cause OPIDN at sublethal doses.     

Selective inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase relative to neuropathy target esterase and acetylcholinesterase: toxicological implications

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) plays an important role in nerve function by regulating the action of endocannabinoids (e.g., anandamide) and hydrolyzing a sleep-inducing factor (oleamide). Several organophosphorus pesticides and related compounds are shown in this study to be more potent in vivo inhibitors of mouse brain FAAH than neuropathy target esterase (NTE), raising the question of the potential toxicological relevance of FAAH inhibition. These FAAH-selective compounds include tribufos and (R)-octylbenzodioxaphosphorin oxide with delayed neurotoxic effects in mice and hens plus several organophosphorus pesticides (e.g., fenthion) implicated as delayed neurotoxicants in humans. The search for a highly potent and selective inhibitor for FAAH relative to NTE for use as a toxicological probe culminated in the discovery that octylsulfonyl fluoride inhibits FAAH by 50% at 2 nM in vitro and 0.2 mg/kg in vivo and NTE is at least 100-fold less sensitive in each case. More generally, the studies revealed 12 selective in vitro inhibitors for FAAH (mostly octylsulfonyl and octylphosphonyl derivatives) and 9 for NTE (mostly benzodioxaphosphorin oxides and organophosphorus fluoridates). The overall in vivo findings with 16 compounds indicate the expected association of AChE inhibition with acute or cholinergic syndrome and >70% brain NTE inhibition with delayed neurotoxic action. Surprisingly, 75-99% brain FAAH inhibition does not lead to any overt neurotoxicity or change in behavior (other than potentiation of exogenous anandamide action). Thus, FAAH inhibition in mouse brain does not appear to be a primary target for organophosphorus pesticide-induced neurotoxic action (cholinergic or intermediate syndrome or delayed neurotoxicity).     

Neuropathy target esterase in mouse whole blood as a biomarker of exposure to neuropathic organophosphorus compounds

The adult hen is the standard animal model for testing organophosphorus (OP) compounds for organophosphorus compound‐induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN). Recently, we developed a mouse model for biochemical assessment of the neuropathic potential of OP compounds based on brain neuropathy target esterase (NTE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. We carried out the present work to further develop the mouse model by testing the hypothesis that whole blood NTE inhibition could be used as a biochemical marker for exposure to neuropathic OP compounds. Because brain NTE and AChE inhibition are biomarkers of OPIDN and acute cholinergic toxicity, respectively, we compared NTE and AChE 20‐min IC₅₀ values as well as ED₅₀ values 1 h after single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of increasing doses of two neuropathic OP compounds that differed in acute toxicity potency. We found good agreement between the brain and blood for in vitro sensitivity of each enzyme as well for the ratios IC₅₀(AChE)/IC₅₀(NTE). Both OP compounds inhibited AChE and NTE in the mouse brain and blood dose‐dependently, and brain and blood inhibitions in vivo were well correlated for each enzyme. For both OP compounds, the ratio ED₅₀(AChE)/ED₅₀(NTE) in blood corresponded to that in the brain despite the somewhat higher sensitivity of blood enzymes. Thus, our results indicate that mouse blood NTE could serve as a biomarker of exposure to neuropathic OP compounds. Moreover, the data suggest that relative inhibition of blood NTE and AChE provide a way to assess the likelihood that OP compound exposure in a susceptible species would produce cholinergic and/or delayed neuropathic effects. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetic interactions of a neuropathy potentiator (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride) with the neuropathy target esterase and other membrane bound esterases

Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) is a protease and esterase inhibitor that causes protection, or potentiation/“promotion,” of organophosphorus delayed neuropathy (OPIDN), depending on whether it is dosed before or after an inducer of delayed neuropathy, such as mipafox. The molecular target of the potentiation/promotion of OPIDN has not yet been identified. The kinetic data of phenyl valerate esterase inhibition by PMSF were obtained with membrane chicken brain fractions, the animal model and tissue in which neuropathy target esterase (NTE) was first described. Data were analyzed using a kinetic model with a multienzymatic system in which inhibition, simultaneous chemical hydrolysis of the inhibitor and “ongoing inhibition” (inhibition during the substrate reaction) were considered. Three main esterase components were discriminated: two sensitive enzymatic entities representing 44 and 41 %, with I ₅₀ (20 min) of 35 and 198 μM at 37 °C, respectively, and a resistant fraction of 15 % of activity. The estimated constant of the chemical hydrolysis of PMSF was also calculated (kh = 0.28 min^?1). Four esterase components were globally identified considering also previously data with paraoxon and mipafox: EPα (4–8 %), highly sensitive to paraoxon and mipafox, spontaneously reactivates after inhibition with paraoxon, and resistant to PMSF; EPβ (38–41 %), sensitive to paraoxon and PMSF, but practically resistant to mipafox, this esterase component has the kinetic characteristics expected for the PMSF potentiator target, even though paraoxon cannot be a potentiator in vivo due to high AChE inhibition; EPγ (NTE) (39–48 %), paraoxon-resistant and sensitive to the micromolar concentration of mipafox and PMSF; and EPδ (10 %), resistant to all the inhibitors assayed. This kinetic characterization study is needed for further isolation and molecular characterization studies, and these PMSF phenyl valerate esterase components will have to be considered in further studies of OPIDN promotion. A simple test for monitoring the four esterase components is proposed.     

Neurotoxic esterase (NTE) assay: optimized conditions based on detergent-induced shifts in the phenol/4-aminoantipyrine chromophore spectrum

An assay for neurotoxic esterase (neuropathy target esterase, NTE) was developed by Johnson (1,2) to assess the delayed neurotoxic potential of organophosphorus compounds. NTE activity is calculated from the rate of phenyl valerate hydrolysis resistant to paraoxon and sensitive to mipafox inhibition under specified conditions of inhibitor concentrations, pH, temperature, and incubation times with inhibitors and substrate. The amount of phenol produced is measured colorimetrically after its oxidative coupling with 4-aminoantipyrine to yield 4-N-(1,4-benzoquinoneimine)-antipyrine, a chromophore with a wavelength of maximum absorbance (lambda m) 510 nm and corresponding molar absorptivity (molar extinction coefficient, epsilon) equal to 13,900 M-1cm-1. The assay was improved and simplified later by Johnson (3) without any change in the lambda m or epsilon, even though the chromophore solvent was altered by adding the detergent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The present work demonstrates that when the NTE assay is performed according to the improved procedure, with a final [SDS] of 3.0 mg/mL, the lambda m of the chromophore in the assay mixture is shifted from 510 to 490 nm. The same shift in the chromophore lambda m is observed when phenol standards are coupled with 4-aminoantipyrine in solutions containing 3.0 mg/mL SDS. A systematic investigation of the dependence of the lambda m of the chromophore on [SDS] in the assay mixture revealed that the spectral shift increases rapidly at an [SDS] greater than the apparent critical micelle concentration (CMC; estimated to be 0.53 mg/mL under these conditions) and begins to plateau at [SDS] greater than 10 mg/mL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vivo and in vitro regional differential sensitivity of neuropathy target esterase to Di-n-butyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate

Organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP) is initiated by inhibition/aging of more than 70–75% of neuropathy target esterase (NTE). Di-n-butyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DBDCVP) (1 mg/kg s.c.) inhibited 96%, 86% and 83% of NTE in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve, respectively, and induced a typical central peripheral distal axonopathy in hens. A lower dose (0.45 mg/kg s.c.) caused 90%, 83% and 54% NTE inhibition in the same organs; by contrast, hens developed a spastic ataxia with axonal degeneration in spinal cord but not in peripheral nerve. With a dose of 0.2 mg/kg s.c., a suprathreshold inhibition of NTE was produced in brain (78%) but not in spinal cord (56%) and peripheral nerve (33%) and no morphological or clinical signs of neuropathy developed in hens. With doses up to 4.0 mg/kg s.c., acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition was similar throughout the nervous system. In vitro time-course inhibition studies showed a different sensitivity to DBDCVP of NTE from peripheral nerve (k_a = 5.4 × 10⁶) relative to that from spinal cord (k_a = 13.9 × 10⁶) or brain (k_a = 20.6 × 10⁶). In vitro I₅₀s of DBDCVP for AChE were similar in brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve (11–17 nM). These data support the hypothesis that the critical target for initiation of OPIDP is located in the nerve fiber, possibly in the axon and also suggest that peripheral nerve NTE has a different sensitivity to DBDCVP than the brain enzyme. Moreover, they confirm data showing that the degree of NTE inhibition in brain after dosing with organophosphates may not be a good monitor for the enzyme in parts of the nervous system where axonal degeneration actually develops. Therefore, direct assay of peripheral nerve NTE yields data which closely correlate with degree of axonal degeneration.Part of this work was presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, held in Washington DC, USA, February 24–27, 1987 and at the International Meeting on Esterases, Hydrolysing Organophosphorus Compounds, held in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, April 24–27, 1988     

L-lactate protects in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from inhibition by paraoxon (E 600)

Intoxication with the organophosphorus compound paraoxon (POX), an inhibitor of serine hydrolases, is frequent. Oximes are the only enzyme reactivators clinically available. Recent work has shown that lactate is able to reduce in vitro the POX effects on butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Most of the acute clinical symptoms, however, are caused by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Effects of lactate on the inhibition of AChE by POX were assessed in vitro in plasma of 12 (six male, six female) healthy human volunteers. The determinations were repeated using different lactate and different POX concentrations. The AChE activity determinations were performed in the following settings: (BL) baseline (untreated plasma); (a) after addition of POX to plasma (pl + POX); (b) after POX and plasma were incubated and then lactate was added (pl + POX/lact); (c) after addition of lactate to plasma (pl + lact); (d) after lactate and plasma were incubated and then POX was added (pl + lact/POX); (e) after lactate and POX were incubated and then added to plasma (lact + POX/pl). In the micro- and millimolar ranges, lactate is able to protect in vitro AChE from inhibition by POX when added to human plasma prior to POX or when incubated with POX prior to addition to plasma. Lactate added to plasma after POX has no protective effect. In a second set of experiments, the effect of lactate on AChE activity was determined. At high millimolar concentrations, lactate itself inhibits AChE non-competitively (mixed inhibition) to an extent comparable to POX (inhibition constant K(I) = 254 mM).     

Involvement of neuropathy target esterase in tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate-induced testicular spermatogenesis failure and growth inhibition of spermatogonial stem cells in mice

Tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) has been widely used in industry and reported to induce delayed neurotoxicity in humans and animals. In addition, it is known to have a deleterious effect on the male reproductive system in animals, but the precise mechanism is yet to be elucidated. The present study shows that TOCP could disrupt the seminiferous epithelium in the mouse testis and decrease the sperm density in the epididymis in a dose-dependent manner. Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) was shown to exist in mouse spermatogenic cells, including spermatogonial stem cells and to be significantly inhibited by TOCP. Likewise, saligenin cyclic-o-tolyl phosphate (SCOTP), an activated metabolite of TOCP, markedly inhibited NTE activity in spermatogonial stem cells. Both inhibition of NTE activity by SCOTP and knockdown of NTE by shRNA remarkably inhibited cell proliferation. These results point to a role of NTE in regulating proliferation of mouse spermatogonial stem cells and provide a novel insight into the mechanism by which TOCP diminishes on the sperm number in the mouse testis.     

Reactivating and protective effects of pyridinium compounds in human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase inhibition by organophosphates in vitro

The reactivation of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) inhibited by O-ethyl-S-2-di-isopropylaminoethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX) and the protection against AChE inhibition by O-1,2,2-trimethylpropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (Soman) was studied with sixteen quaternized pyridinium compounds. TMB-4 which is known as a good reactivator of AChE inhibited by organophosphates proved to be the most effective reactivator. Of the tested newly synthetised compounds 3 were fairly good reactivators of methylethoxyphosphonylated AChE. These compounds have 2 pyridinium rings connected by a dimethylether link and a hydroxiiminomethyl group in position 2 of one pyridinium ring, while the radicals of the other pyridinium ring are benzoylcarbonyl, cyclohexylcarbonyl or amidocarbonyl residue.The rate of reactivation with these compounds followed a two-phase pattern, being fast at the beginning and then slowing down to an equilibrium. Kinetic treatment of the first-phase reaction course yielded the second-order rate constants of reactivation. All 3 compounds had similar reactivating efficiency (k _r values range from 0.8×10³ to 3.6×10³ M^–1 min^–1) and in effective concentrations (1 to 100 M) they also inhibited AChE (K _i(app) values range from 0.11 to 0.19 mM). Their reactivating properties were not better than those revealed by TMB-4 (k _r= 19.4×10³ M^–1 min^–1) which was tested as a reference compound.HGG-12, HGG-42 and HI-6 were also found to exert a good protective effect against AChE inhibition by Soman; no protection was obtained with TMB-4.