Neuropathy target esterase reactivation

OPs are known to induce time-delayed neurotoxicity. This is due to the inhibition of an esterase in nerve tissue, neuropathy target esterase (NTE), that is also found in muscle and blood cells. The NTE level in the blood is an indicator of the inhibition of the enzyme. Inhibition of NTE and aging, the process of following the OP binding to an active esterase site that prevents the reactivation of the site, is important for selection of an antidote against certain OP nerve agents. It is of primary concern for Novichok agent. There is little information available on OP-caused neurotoxicity and the cardiac toxicity. 

Barril, J., Estevez, J., Escudero, M.A., Cespedes, M.V., Niguez, N., Sogorb, M.A., Monroy, A., Vilanova, E. (1999). Peripheral nerve soluble esterases are spontaneously reactivated after inhibition by paraoxon implications for a new definition of neuropathy target esterase. Chem. Biol. Interact. 119-20 541-50. 

Milatovic, D., Johnson, M.K. (1993). Reactivation of phosphor-amidated acetylcholinesterase and neuropathy target esterase hy treatment of inhibited enzyme with potassium fluoride. Chem. Biol. Interact. 87 425-30. 

Yoshida, M., Wu, S. Y., and Casida, J.E., Reactivity and stereospecificity of neuropathy target esterase and alpha-chy motrypsin with 2-substituted-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-oxides, Toxicol Lett. 74(2), 167-76,1994. 

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