The group of Zhaobing GAO has found that a channel protein in the neuron cell membrane, TRPA1, mediates organophosphate-induced neuropathy and that TRPA1 can be targeted effectively with existing drugs such as duloxetine and ketotifen (screened from over 2000 approved drugs) to alleviate effects. TRPA1 is a channel protein that mediates the movement of calcium ions into neurons, an important part of the process that leads to activation of a neuron and physiological effects such as smell, taste, vision and temperature sensation.

CAS news release, August 2, 2017