[Organophosphorus poisoning: Towards enzymatic treatments]

Abstract

Organophosphorus compounds (OP) are toxic molecules developed as insecticides and chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs). Most OP are neurotoxic and act as nervous system disruptors by blocking cholinergic transmission. They are therefore responsible for many poisonings worldwide. OP toxicity may result either from acute or chronic exposure, and their poisoning effect were evaluated using several animal models. These latter were also used for evaluating the efficacy of antidotes. Strategies based on enzymes that can trap (stoichiometric bioscavengers) or degrade (catalytic bioscavengers) OP, were particularly studied since they allow effective decontamination, without toxicity or environmental impact. This review summarizes the results obtained in vivo with enzymes through three levels: prophylaxis, treatment and external decontamination. The efficiency of enzymatic treatments in different animal models is presented and the relevance of these models is also discussed for a better extrapolation to humans.

Keywords: Agents neurotoxiques; Bioscavengers enzymatiques; Chemical nerve agents; Décontamination externe; Enzymatic bioscavengers; External decontamination; Insecticides; Organophosphorus compounds; Organophosphorés; Prophylaxie; Prophylaxis; Traitement; Treatment.