Organophosphate Cholinesterase Inhibitor (Diisopropylfluorophosphate) Induces Acetylcholinesterase-mediated Nicotinic Receptor Facilitation

Background : Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) which have been widely used clinically are known to have diverse actions on the neuromuscular synaptic transmissions, suggesting that inhibiting cholinesterase (ChE) might not be their only mode of action. ChEIs interact with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) macromolecule as a weak agonist, and as a modulator inducing desensitization and blockade at high concentrations. In a previous study, we reported that carbamate ChEIs, Pyridostigmine and Physostigmine could facilitate the ionic influx through nAChRs, when precluding the ACh-hydrolyzing effect of acetylChE (AChE) by applying carbachol as an agonist. The facilitation of the nAChR function was supposed to be achieved by AChE-mediated nAChR modulation and possibly by the up-regulation of nAChRs. M e t h o d s : In this study, we analyzed the effect of irreversible organophosphate ChEI, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) on the function of muscular nAChRs in TE671 cells, quantifying carbachol-induced intracellular Na influx through nAChRs, using radioassay. Results : Preincubation of cells with 1 mM DFP at 37°C for 10 min as well as the simultaneous application of carbachol and DFP, decreased the carbachol-induced influx dose-dependently. However, preincubation of cells with 10 μM DFP potentiated the influx to 132.5±7.4% CPM. Moreover, Najar Tx completely inhibited the potentiated Na influx. Conclusions : Organophosphate ChEI can facilitate nAChR functions at low concentrations with a yet discovered mechanism, which is supposed to necessitate cellular metabolism, and be possibly mediated by AChE. The inhibition of DFP on nAChR functions at high concentration is attributable to its remained curare-like actions and direct cellular toxicity. J Korean Neurol Assoc 18(6):735~740, 2000