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Voros C, Dias J, Timperley CM, Nachon F, Brown RCD, Baati R. The risk associated with organophosphorus nerve agents: from their discovery to their unavoidable threat, current medical countermeasures and perspectives. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 395:110973. [PMID: 38574837 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The first organophosphorus nerve agent was discovered accidently during the development of pesticides, shortly after the first use of chemical weapons (chlorine, phosgene) on the battlefield during World War I. Despite the Chemical Weapons Convention banning these substances, they have still been employed in wars, terrorist attacks or political assassinations. Characterised by their high lethality, they target the nervous system by inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, preventing neurotransmission, which, if not treated rapidly, inevitably leads to serious injury or the death of the person intoxicated. The limited efficacy of current antidotes, known as AChE reactivators, pushes research towards new treatments. Numerous paths have been explored, from modifying the original pyridinium oximes to developing hybrid reactivators seeking a better affinity for the inhibited AChE. Another crucial approach resides in molecules more prone to cross the blood-brain barrier: uncharged compounds, bio-conjugated reactivators or innovative formulations. Our aim is to raise awareness on the threat and toxicity of organophosphorus nerve agents and to present the main synthetic efforts deployed since the first AChE reactivator, to tackle the task of efficiently treating victims of these chemical warfare agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Voros
- Ecole de Chimie Polymère et Matériaux ECPM, Université de Strasbourg, ICPEES UMR CNRS 7515, 25 rue Becquerel, F-67087, Strasbourg, France.
| | - José Dias
- Département de Toxicologie et Risques Chimiques, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Christopher M Timperley
- Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Division, Dstl, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ, UK.
| | - Florian Nachon
- Département de Toxicologie et Risques Chimiques, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, F-91220 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France
| | - Richard C D Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - Rachid Baati
- Ecole de Chimie Polymère et Matériaux ECPM, Université de Strasbourg, ICPEES UMR CNRS 7515, 25 rue Becquerel, F-67087, Strasbourg, France; OPGS Pharmaceuticals, Paris BioTech Santé, 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, F-75014, Paris, France.
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Cenk M, Bekiroğlu Ataş H, Sabuncuoğlu S. Glutathione conjugation of sesquimustard: in vitro investigation of potential biomarkers. Arch Toxicol 2024:10.1007/s00204-024-03788-1. [PMID: 38780811 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03788-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Sesquimustard (Q) is a powerful blistering agent that contains additional sulfur atoms. Sulfur mustard causes covalent bonding by alkylating nucleophilic groups of biologically important macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, DNA, or RNA. Most cells maintain relatively high amounts of a unique tripeptide called glutathione (GSH) (γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl glycine), which possesses a free thiol group, to prevent unwanted reactions caused by reactive chemical entities. Moreover, these thiol groups on cysteines (Cys) are the main target for alkylation. Although Q is the most potent vesicant among sulfur mustards, research studies identifying biomarkers of Q are very limited. Therefore, here in this study, we aimed to identify the GSH and Cys conjugates of Q using mass spectrometric methods and to observe the formation of these conjugates in HaCat cell culture following exposure to different doses. We identified four different conjugates of Q, which are bis-glutathionyl ethylthioethylthioethyl conjugate (GSH-ETETE-GSH), hydroxyethylthioethylthioethyl glutathione conjugate (HETETE-GSH), bis-cysteinyl ethylthioethylthioethyl conjugate (Cys-ETETE-Cys), and hydroxyethylthioethylthioethyl cysteine conjugate (HETETE-Cys). The identity of the conjugates was elucidated using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). We also investigated changes in conjugate formation with exposure concentration and time elapsed after exposure in the cell culture. After exposure, GSH conjugates decreased until 1st hour, while Cys conjugates increased until 6th hour. We also observed that conjugate formation depended on the concentration of Q. This is the first study to elucidate the conjugates of Q dependent on GSH conjugation. As biomarkers are essential tools for evaluating exposure to Q, this study contributes to the limited number of studies identifying biomarkers for Q.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muharrem Cenk
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
- General Directorate of Public Health, National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Havva Bekiroğlu Ataş
- General Directorate of Public Health, National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Suna Sabuncuoğlu
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
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3
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Caré W, Delacour H, Vodovar D, Langrand J, Laborde-Castérot H. Occupational vesicant-induced skin lesions. Contact Dermatitis 2024; 90:91-93. [PMID: 37775955 DOI: 10.1111/cod.14432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Weniko Caré
- Paris Poison Control Center, Toxicology Federation (FeTox), Hôpital Fernand Widal, AP-HP. Nord Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bégin Military Teaching Hospital, Saint-Mandé, France
- INSERM, UMR-S 1144, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Delacour
- Department of Medical Biology, Bégin Military Teaching Hospital, Saint-Mandé, France
- Val-de-Grâce School, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Vodovar
- Paris Poison Control Center, Toxicology Federation (FeTox), Hôpital Fernand Widal, AP-HP. Nord Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR-S 1144, Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Langrand
- Paris Poison Control Center, Toxicology Federation (FeTox), Hôpital Fernand Widal, AP-HP. Nord Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR-S 1144, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Laborde-Castérot
- Paris Poison Control Center, Toxicology Federation (FeTox), Hôpital Fernand Widal, AP-HP. Nord Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- INSERM, UMR 1153, Paris, France
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Jamshidi V, Halabian R, Saeedi P, Bagheri H, Nobakht Motlagh Ghoochani BF. Accelerating synergistic effects of preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells with Crocin and dexamethasone in pulmonary epithelial cells injury. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2023; 12:369-380. [PMID: 37397913 PMCID: PMC10311171 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfad016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical warfare victims suffer from bronchiolitis and chronic pulmonary obstruction caused by sulfur mustard (SM) toxicity. Despite the mesenchymal stem cells capacity to alleviate inflammation, their low survival rate under oxidative stress severely limits their effectiveness. This study aimed to examine how natural (Crocin) and synthetic (Dexamethasone) antioxidants might affect MSC efficacy. MSCs were treated with the optimal doses of Crocin (Cr.), Dexamethasone (Dex.), and their combination. The A549 cells line was pretreated with the optimal dose of the CEES to mimic the lung disease. Then, the affected A549 cells were exposed to the preconditioned MSCs and conditioned media, and then their survival rates were estimated by MTTor2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Annexin-V PI apoptosis test was conducted for MSCs and A549 cells. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) assay and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test demonstrated the percentage of production of ROS and the cytokines levels in A549/CEES, respectively. The results revealed significant increases in Cr. + Dex. treated MSCs (P < .01) and A549 cells treated with MSCs-CM/Cr/Dex (P < .01) groups' survival. The apoptosis rate and ROS production were reduced in the MSCs-CM/Cr/Dex. Also, considerable decreases in IL-1β (P < .01) and IL-6 (P < .01) and a significant increase in IL-10 (P < .05) in treated A549/CEES by Cr/Dex and MSCs-CM/Cr/Dex supported the synergistic effects of Crocin and Dexamethasone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Jamshidi
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14359-44711, Iran
| | - Raheleh Halabian
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14359-44711, Iran
| | - Pardis Saeedi
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14359-44711, Iran
| | - Hasan Bagheri
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14359-44711, Iran
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Pei Z, Cen J, Zhang X, Gong C, Sun M, Meng W, Mao G, Wan J, Hu B, He X, Xu Q, Han H, Xiao K. MiR-146a-5p delivered by hucMSC extracellular vesicles modulates the inflammatory response to sulfur mustard-induced acute lung injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:149. [PMID: 37254188 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03375-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sulfur mustard (SM) is a highly toxic chemical warfare agent that has caused numerous casualties during wars and conflicts in the past century. Specific antidotes or therapeutic strategies are rare due to the complicated mechanism of toxicity, which still awaits elucidation. Clinical data show that acute lung injury (ALI) is responsible for most mortality and morbidity after SM exposure. Extracellular vesicles are natural materials that participate in intercellular communication by delivering various substances and can be modified. In this study, we aim to show that extracellular vesicles derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hucMSC-EVs) could exert therapeutic effects on SM-induced ALI, and to explain the underlying mechanism of effects. METHODS MiR-146a-5p contained in hucMSC-EVs may be involved in the process of hucMSC-EVs modulating the inflammatory response to SM-induced ALI. We utilized miR-146a-5p delivered by extracellular vesicles and further modified hucMSCs with a miR-146a-5p mimic or inhibitor to collect miR-146a-5p-overexpressing extracellular vesicles (miR-146a-5p+-EVs) or miR-146a-5p-underexpressing extracellular vesicles (miR-146a-5p--EVs), respectively. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we investigated the mechanism. RESULTS The effect of miR-146a-5p+-EVs on improving the inflammatory reaction tied to SM injury was better than that of hucMSC-EVs. We demonstrated that miR-146a-5p delivered by hucMSC-EVs targeted TRAF6 to negatively regulate inflammation in SM-induced ALI models in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION In summary, miR-146a-5p delivered by hucMSC-EVs targeted TRAF6, causing hucMSC-EVs to exert anti-inflammatory effects in SM-induced ALI; thus, hucMSC-EVs treatment may be a promising clinical therapeutic after SM exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Pei
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jinfeng Cen
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xinkang Zhang
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Chuchu Gong
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Mingxue Sun
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wenqi Meng
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Guanchao Mao
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jingjing Wan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Bingyue Hu
- School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xiaowen He
- Origincell Technology Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qingqiang Xu
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Hua Han
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Kai Xiao
- Department of Protective Medicine Against Chemical Agents, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Retrospective detection for V-type OPNAs exposure via phosphonylation and disulfide adducts in albumin. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10979. [PMID: 35768567 PMCID: PMC9243071 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15198-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs) that damage the central nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity, pose severe threats to human health and life security. Reliable biomarkers that quickly and accurately detect OPNAs exposure are urgently needed to help diagnose quickly and treat in time. Albumins that covalently bind to OPNAs could serve as important targets for retrospective verification of OPNAs exposure. The goal of this study is to explore the potential biomarkers in albumins with high reactivity and good stability and expand the group of potential biomarkers in different species for detecting the exposure of V-type OPNAs including O-ethyl S-(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VX), O-isobutyl S-(2(diethylamino)ethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VR), and O-butyl S-(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) methylphosphonothioate (Vs). Taking human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and rabbit serum albumin (RSA) as the research objectives, multiple active sites including phosphonylation and disulfide adduct sites were observed in albumins from different species. Numerous phosphonylation sites labeled by all agents in one type of albumin were found. Among the different species, four shared phosphonylation sites with high reactivity include K499, K549, K249, and Y108. In addition, Y108 on ETY*GEMADCCAK, Y287 on Y*ICENQDSISSK, Y377 on TY*ETTLEK and Y164 on YLY*EIAR in HSA were stably phosphonylated by all agents in gradient concentration, making them stable and suitable potential biomarkers for V-type OPNAs exposure. Notably, Y108 on ETY*GEMADCCAK in HSA, on DTY*GDVADCCEK in RSA, and on ETY*GDMADCCEK in BSA were highly reactive to all V-type agents, regardless of species. It was also successfully labeled in HSA exposed to class V agents in gradient concentration. Y108 is expected to be used to screen and identify the exposure of V-type agents in the retrospective research. Disulfide adducts sites, consisted of four sites in HSA and two sites in BSA were also successfully labeled by V-type agents, and characteristic ion fragments from these disulfide adducts were also identified by secondary mass spectrometry. Molecular simulation of the stably modified sites were conducted to discover the promoting factors of covalent adduct formation, which help further clarify formation mechanism of albumin adducts at active sites.
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Araj H, Tseng H, Yeung DT. Supporting discovery and development of medical countermeasures for chemical injury to eye and skin. Exp Eye Res 2022; 221:109156. [PMID: 35716762 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Vesicants, from vesica (Latin for blister), can cause local and systemic toxicity. They include the chemotherapy drug nitrogen mustard and chemical warfare agents sulfur mustard, Lewisite, and phosgene oxime. These agents are commonly released in vapor form and consequently, eyes and skin are the most vulnerable. The ocular and cutaneous injuries can be acute, subacute, or chronic, and can predispose casualties to secondary deleterious effects. Underlying these broad organ responses are shared and tissue-specific cellular and molecular biological cascades that attempt to counteract such chemical injuries. Depending on the severity of the chemical insult, biological responses often lead to inadequate wound healing and result in long-term pathology instead. Exposure to other toxic industrial chemicals such as acrolein, chloropicrin, and hydrogen fluoride, can also cause prominent eye and skin damage. There are currently no FDA-approved drugs to counteract these injuries. Hence, the possibility of a mass casualty emergency involving these chemicals is a major public health concern. Recognizing this critical challenge, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to the development of medical countermeasures to advance national health and medical preparedness against these highly toxic chemicals. Here, we provide an overview of various HHS funding and scientific opportunities available in this space, emphasizing parallels between eye and skin response to chemical injury. We also discuss a main limitation of existing data and suggest ways to overcome it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houmam Araj
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH), 6700B Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, United States.
| | - Hung Tseng
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases/National Institutes of Health (NIAMS/NIH), 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
| | - David T Yeung
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health (NIAID/NIH), 5601 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD, 20892, United States.
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