Organophosphate-Induced Neurotoxicity: Countermeasures, Mechanisms, and Physiology

Dear Colleagues,

Organophosphates (OPs) are comprised of diverse compounds that include commonly used pesticides, fire retardants, industrial chemicals, and chemical weapon. Acute and chronic exposures to OPs can elicit immediate, intermediate, and chronic effects on the nervous system, including potentially contibuting to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders. While the primary mechanism of OP neurotoxicity has been canonically ascribed to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, evidence is emerging that noncholinergic mechanisms may contibute to the neurotoxic effects following OP exposure. A variety of biochemical, cellular, and physiological manifestations have been detected following OP exposures in preclinical models and in affected patients, These include calcium dyshomeostasis, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity. As our knowledge of the mechanisms of OP neurotoxicity evolves, the prospects of identifying vaible therapeutic approaches to mitigate these effects and improve long-term diagnostic and prognostic capabilities increase. Consequently, the goals of this Special Issue is to assemble a body a literature to coordinate the rapidly growing and diversifying research surrounding OP-induced neuropathology and the concurrent mechanisms of neurotoxicity and to encourage the investigation of potential countermeasures in reproducible models of OP-induced dysfunction in the central and peripheral nervous system. Collectively, the Special Issue will be a platform to organize findings and guide the future research as a community.

Dr. Jeremy W. Chambers
Guest Editor

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