Organophosphate compounds (OPCs) are commonly used as pesticides and were developed as nerve agents for chemical warfare. Exposure to OPCs results in toxicity due to their covalent binding and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Treatment for toxicity due to OPC exposure has been largely focused on the reactivation of AChE by oxime-based compounds via direct nucleophilic attack on the phosphorous center. However, due to the disadvantages to existing oxime-based reactivators for treatment of OPC poisoning, we considered non-oxime mechanisms of reactivation. A high throughput screen of compound libraries was performed to discover previously unidentified reactivation compounds, followed by studies on their analogs. In the process, we discovered multiple non-oxime classes of compounds, the most robust of which we have already reported [1]. Herein, we report other classes of compounds we identified in our screen that are efficient at reactivation. During biochemical characterization, we also found some compounds with other activities that may inspire novel therapeutic approaches to OPC toxicity. Specifically, we found compounds that [1] increase the rate of substrate hydrolysis by AChE and, [2] protect the enzyme from inhibition by OPC. Further, we discovered that a subset of reactivator compounds recover activity from both AChE and the related enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). We now report these compounds, their activities and discuss how each relates to therapeutic approaches that would provide alternatives to traditional oxime-based reactivation.
Title: Kinetic analysis of interactions of amodiaquine with human cholinesterases and organophosphorus compounds Bierwisch A, Wille T, Thiermann H, Worek F Ref: Toxicol Lett, 246:49, 2016 : PubMed
Standard therapy of poisoning by organophosphorus compounds (OP) is a combined administration of an anti-muscarinic drug (e.g. atropine) and an oxime as reactivator of inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Limited efficacy of clinically used oximes against a variety of OPs was shown in numerous studies, calling for research on novel reactivators of OP-inhibited AChE. Recently, reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE by the antimalarial drug amodiaquine was reported. In the present study, amodiaquine and its interactions with human cholinesterases in presence or absence of OP nerve agents was investigated in vitro. Thereby, reversible inhibition of human cholinesterases by amodiaquine (AChE>>BChE) was observed. Additionally, a mixed competitive-non-competitive inhibition type of amodiaquine with human AChE was determined. Slow and partial reactivation of sarin-, cyclosarin- and VX-inhibited cholinesterases by amodiaquine was recorded, amodiaquine failed to reactivate tabun-inhibited human cholinesterases. Amodiaquine, being a potent, reversible AChE inhibitor, was tested for its potential benefit as a pretreatment to prevent complete irreversible AChE inhibition by the nerve agent soman. Hereby, amodiaquine failed to prevent phosphonylation and resulted only in a slight increase of AChE activity after removal of amodiaquine and soman. At present the molecular mechanism of amodiaquine-induced reactivation of OP-inhibited AChE is not known, nevertheless amodiaquine could be considered as a template for the design of more potent non-oxime reactivators.
