Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment (Nov 2024)
Mechanisms of Neurotoxicity of Organophosphate Pesticides and Their Relation to Neurological Disorders
Abstract
Yixin Chen,1,* Zhuo Yang,2,* Bin Nian,3 Chenglin Yu,4 Dilimulat Maimaiti,5 Min Chai,1 Xinran Yang,1 Xiuxian Zang,1 Dahai Xu1 1Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Emergency Intensive Care Unit of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasonography, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, Jilin, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Emergency Medicine, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, Jilin, 133000, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Emergency Medicine, Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830054, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dahai Xu; Xiuxian Zang, Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No. 1 Xinmin Street, Chaoyang District, Changchun, Jilin, 130000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8615043032548 ; +8613596097922, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Organophosphates (OPs) refers to a diverse group of phosphorus-containing organic compounds; they are widely used all over the world and have had an important beneficial impact on industrial and agricultural production and control of vector transmission. Exposure to OPs of different toxicities (high, moderate, slight, and low toxicity) can all have negative consequences on the nervous system, such as nausea, vomiting, muscle tremors, and convulsions. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure or even death. Notably, OPs induce neuropathy in the nervous system through specific interactions with nicotinic or muscarinic receptors, phosphorylating acetylcholinesterase, or neuropathic target esterases. This review summarizes the possible toxicological mechanisms and their interplay underlying OP pesticide poisoning, including cholinesterase inhibition and non-cholinesterase mechanisms. It outlines the possible links between OP pesticide poisoning and neurological disorders, such as dementia, neurodevelopmental diseases, and Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, it explores OP interactions’ potential therapeutic implications that may help mitigate the deleterious impact of OPs on the nervous system.Keywords: organophosphate pesticides, neurotoxicity, acetylcholinesterase, neurodegenerative diseases
