Cholinesterases as bioscavengers for protection against organophosphate chemical warfare agents

摘要

Conventional medical treatment against the toxicity of organophosphorus (OP) compound consists of anticholinergic drugs to counteract the accumulation of acetylcholine and oximes to reactivate OP-inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Although, both oxime and carbamate antidotal regimens are effective in preventing lethality from OP compounds, their restriction to the periphery because of their cationic charges results in post exposure incapacitation and toxic effects in experimental animals. The failures of these pharmacological approaches to provide complete protection against OP compounds have led to the development of enzyme bioscavengers to remove OP compounds from circulation before they inhibit neural AChE.