BChE reactivators for nerve agent and pesticide OP detoxification in human tissue

University Of California, San Diego, La Jolla CA

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Abstract

BChE reactivators for nerve agent and pesticide OP detoxification in human tissue Project Summary: We propose to develop a previously unexplored approach in therapy of nerve agent and pesticide OP exposure based on efficient reactivation of endogeneous BChE directly in human circulation and tissues. This approach is largely based on accelerated OP degradation of OPs directly in tissues where OPs enter and/or accumulate first during an exposure. Oxime assisted OP hydrolysis by BChE naturally present in lungs, intestine and plasma, thus provides a barrier to subsequent distribution of OPs to target sites in skeletal muscle and CNS. We recently demonstrated as a proof of principle, the functioning of oxime assisted, BChE based, catalytic OP bioscavenger in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo (Radi et al.,Biochem J 450, 2013,231-242). We demonstrated that TAB2OH, a newly developed oxime reactivator of human BChE had sufficient capacity to rapidly reactivate inactive, covalent OP- BChE conjugates in vitro, and enhance both protection and therapy of OP exposed mice when administered in combination with purified BChE. We now propose to utilize endogenous human BChE naturally present in lungs, intestine and plasma at nM concentrations instead of administering purified BChE, and to administer only highly efficient BChE reactivator to assist endogenous BChE in OP degradation. We assume that this will be possible since we recently developed a series of tertiary and quaternary imidazole based hBChE reactivators that are several fold more efficient in vitro than TAB2OH. The tertiary amines have the additional potential for blood-brain barrier and alveolar membrane permeation and oral bioavailability. We propose to investigate in vivo efficacy of new BChE reactivators in OP exposed mice and further refine their structure to improve their reactivation properties. This R21 proposed research, through accumulating in vitro kinetic parameters of reactivation and turnover of hBChE in the presence of an OP and taking the optimal compounds to an in vivo analysis in mouse, should uncover the potential of endogenous BChE reactivation in antidotal therapy. It should also lead to ascertaining the most efficacious dosage regimen and to assessing the limits of capitalizing on enhancing the potential of endogenous BChE through oxime-assisted catalysis. In short, is there an OP exposure level where oral or parenteral oximes directed to reactivating BChE are efficacious without having to resort to the cumbersome and risk- associated BChE fortification of activity in field and non-sterile conditions?