Identification of 9α-hydroxy-17-oxo-1,2,3,4,10,19-hexanorandrostan-5-oic acid in steroid degradation by Comamonas testosteroni TA441 and its conversion to the corresponding 6-en-5-oyl coenzyme A (CoA) involving open reading frame 28 (ORF28)- and ORF30-encoded acyl-CoA dehydrogenases.

Comamonas testosteroni TA441 degrades steroids via aromatization and meta-cleavage of the A ring, followed by hydrolysis, and produces 9,17-dioxo-1,2,3,4,10,19-hexanorandrostan-5-oic acid as an intermediate compound. Herein, we identify a new intermediate compound, 9α-hydroxy-17-oxo-1,2,3,4,10,19-hexanorandrostan-5-oic acid. Open reading frame 28 (ORF28)- and ORF30-encoded acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) dehydrogenase was shown to convert the CoA ester of 9α-hydroxy-17-oxo-1,2,3,4,10,19-hexanorandrostan-5-oic acid to the CoA ester of 9α-hydroxy-17-oxo-1,2,3,4,10,19-hexanorandrost-6-en-5-oic acid. A homology search of the deduced amino acid sequences suggested that the ORF30-encoded protein is a member of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase_fadE6_17_26 family, whereas the deduced amino acid sequence of ORF28 showed no significant similarity to specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family proteins. Possible steroid degradation gene clusters similar to the cluster of TA441 appear in bacterial genome analysis data. In these clusters, ORFs similar to ORFs 28 and 30 are often found side by side and ordered in the same manner as ORFs 28 and 30.

The influence of intestinal lymphatic transport on the systemic exposure and brain deposition of a novel highly lipophilic compound with structural similarity to cholesterol.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the role of intestinal lymphatic transport in the oral bioavailability and brain deposition of a highly lipophilic, centrally acting drug candidate (Org 49209) in comparison to cholesterol, a close structural analogue. METHODS: The intestinal lymphatic transport of Org 49209 and cholesterol was assessed in lymph-cannulated anaesthetised rats and total bioavailability evaluated in non-lymph-cannulated animals. Parallel groups were employed to examine the brain deposition of Org 49209 after intraduodenal and intraperitoneal administrations. KEY FINDINGS: The contribution of intestinal lymphatic transport to total bioavailability was similar for Org 49209 and cholesterol (approximately 40% of the absorbed dose). However, the oral bioavailability of Org 49209 was significantly (fourfold) lower than cholesterol. Brain deposition of Org 49209 was similar after intraduodenal and intraperitoneal administration. Systemic exposure, however, was higher after intraduodenal administration and brain-to-plasma ratios were therefore reduced. CONCLUSION: The oral bioavailability of Org 49209 was significantly lower than that of its structural analogue cholesterol; however, intestinal lymphatic transport played a similar role in oral bioavailability for both compounds. Brain to plasma ratios were lower after intraduodenal versus intraperitoneal administration, suggesting that drug association with intestinal lymph lipoproteins may limit central nervous system access for highly lipophilic drugs.

The major brain cholesterol metabolite 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol is a potent allosteric modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are glutamate-gated ion channels that are critical to the regulation of excitatory synaptic function in the CNS. NMDARs govern experience-dependent synaptic plasticity and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders including the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia and certain forms of autism. Certain neurosteroids modulate NMDARs experimentally but their low potency, poor selectivity, and very low brain concentrations make them poor candidates as endogenous ligands or therapeutic agents. Here we show that the major brain-derived cholesterol metabolite 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24(S)-HC) is a very potent, direct, and selective positive allosteric modulator of NMDARs with a mechanism that does not overlap that of other allosteric modulators. At submicromolar concentrations 24(S)-HC potentiates NMDAR-mediated EPSCs in rat hippocampal neurons but fails to affect AMPAR or GABAA receptors (GABA(A)Rs)-mediated responses. Cholesterol itself and other naturally occurring oxysterols present in brain do not modulate NMDARs at concentrations ≤10 µM. In hippocampal slices, 24(S)-HC enhances the ability of subthreshold stimuli to induce long-term potentiation (LTP). 24(S)-HC also reverses hippocampal LTP deficits induced by the NMDAR channel blocker ketamine. Finally, we show that synthetic drug-like derivatives of 24(S)-HC, which potently enhance NMDAR-mediated EPSCs and LTP, restore behavioral and cognitive deficits in rodents treated with NMDAR channel blockers. Thus, 24(S)-HC may function as an endogenous modulator of NMDARs acting at a novel oxysterol modulatory site that also represents a target for therapeutic drug development.

Formation of cholesterol ozonolysis products in vitro and in vivo through a myeloperoxidase-dependent pathway.

3ß-Hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al (secosterol-A) and its aldolization product 3ß-hydroxy-5ß-hydroxy-B-norcholestane-6ß-carboxaldehyde (secosterol-B) were recently detected in human atherosclerotic tissues and brain specimens, and they may play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases. However, as their origin remains unidentified, we examined the formation mechanism, the stability, and the fate of secosterols in vitro and in vivo. About 40% of secosterol-A remained unchanged after 3 h incubation in the FBS-free medium, whereas 20% and 40% were converted to its aldehyde-oxidation product, 3ß-hydroxy-5-oxo-secocholestan-6-oic acid, and secosterol-B, respectively. In the presence of FBS, almost all secosterol-A was converted immediately to these compounds. Secosterol-B in the medium, with and without FBS, was relatively stable, but ∼30% was converted to its aldehyde-oxidation product, 3ß-hydroxy-5ß-hydroxy-B-norcholestane-6-oic acid (secoB-COOH). When neutrophil-like differentiated human leukemia HL-60 (nHL-60) cells activated with PMA were cultured in the FBS-free medium containing cholesterol, significantly increased levels of secosterol-A and its aldehyde-oxidation product, but not secosterol-B, were formed. This secosterol-A formation was decreased in the culture of PMA-activated nHL-60 cells containing several reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitors and scavengers or in the culture of PMA-activated neutrophils isolated from myeloperoxidase (MPO)-deficient mice. Our results demonstrate that secoterol-A is formed by an ozone-like oxidant generated with PMA-activated neutrophils through the MPO-dependent mechanism.

CYP21-catalyzed production of the long-term urinary metandienone metabolite 17beta-hydroxymethyl-17 alpha-methyl-18-norandrosta-1,4,13-trien-3-one: a contribution to the fight against doping.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are some of the most frequently misused drugs in human sports. Recently, a previously unknown urinary metabolite of metandienone, 17beta-hydroxymethyl-17 alpha-methyl-18-norandrosta-1,4,13-trien-3-one (20OH-NorMD), was discovered via LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. This metabolite was reported to be detected in urine samples up to 19 days after administration of metandienone. However, so far it was not possible to obtain purified reference material of this metabolite and to confirm its structure via NMR. Eleven recombinant strains of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe that express different human hepatic or steroidogenic cytochrome P450 enzymes were screened for production of this metabolite in a whole-cell biotransformation reaction. 17,17-Dimethyl-18-norandrosta-1,4,13-trien-3-one, chemically derived from metandienone, was used as substrate for the bioconversion, because it could be converted to the final product in a single hydroxylation step. The obtained results demonstrate that CYP21 and to a lesser extent also CYP3A4 expressing strains can catalyze this steroid hydroxylation. Subsequent 5 l-scale fermentation resulted in the production and purification of 10 mg of metabolite and its unequivocal structure determination via NMR. The synthesis of this urinary metandienone metabolite via S. pombe-based whole-cell biotransformation now allows its use as a reference substance in doping control assays.

4Alpha-bromo-5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol and nor-5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol derivatives-stereoselective synthesis and hormonal activity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

We describe the stereoselective synthesis of 4alpha-bromo-5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol, 21-nor-5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol, 27-nor-5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol and 21,27-bisnor-5alpha-cholestan-3beta-ol. In order to clarify the in vivo metabolism of cholesterol, these compounds have been used for feeding experiments in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our preliminary results provide important insights into the metabolism of cholesterol in worms.

Metabolism and excretion of anabolic steroids in doping control--new steroids and new insights.

The use of anabolic steroids in sports is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Until the 1990s, anabolic steroids were solely manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, albeit sometimes on demand from national sports agencies as part of their doping program. Recently the list of prohibited anabolic steroids in sports has grown due to the addition of numerous steroids that have been introduced on the market by non-pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, several designer steroids, specifically developed to circumvent doping control, have also been detected. Because anabolic steroids are most often intensively subjected to phase I metabolism and seldom excreted unchanged, excretion studies need to be performed in order to detect their misuse. This review attempts to summarise the results of excretion studies of recent additions to the list of prohibited steroids in sports. Additionally an update and insight on new aspects for "older" steroids with respect to doping control is given.

Formation of 19-norsteroids by in situ demethylation of endogenous steroids in stored urine samples.

The formation of 19-norsteroids by demethylation of endogenous steroids in stored urine samples was observed. Suspicious urine samples (i.e. containing trace amounts of 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone) were selected and spiked with deuterated analogues of androsterone and etiocholanolone at concentrations corresponding to high endogenous levels (4 microg/mL). After incubation, respective 19-norsteroids (19-norandrosterone-d4 and 19-noretiocholanolone-d5) were identified in these samples by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The transformation of the 5 beta-isomer (etiocholanolone) yields about three-fold higher concentrations, compared to the 5 alpha-isomer. A significant temperature dependence was observed by comparison of reaction kinetics at room temperature (23+/-2 degrees C) and 37 degrees C. Concentrations of 19-norandrosterone-d4 and 19-noretiocholanolone-d5, respectively, were 2.7 and 3.6 times higher at elevated temperature. The conversion of androsterone-d4 to 19-norandrosterone-d4 did not exceed a relative amount of 0.1%. Incubation of the urine samples with androsterone-d4-glucuronide led to the production of 19-norandrosterone-d4-glucuronoide. A partial stabilization was observed after addition of metabolic inhibitors (e.g. EDTA). The application of the incubation experiments described may contribute to the clarification of adverse analytical findings regarding low levels of 19-norsteroid metabolites.

Update on nandrolone and norsteroids: how endogenous or xenobiotic are these substances?

Norsteroids are xenobiotics with androgenic and anabolic properties known since as far back as the 1930s. In doping controls, the use of the banned xenobiotic norsteroids is detected in the competitor's urines by the measurement of norandrosterone (19-NA) and noretiocholanolone (19-NE), which are the main metabolites for nandrolone (NT) and most norsteroids with anabolic properties. In 1996, the IOC subcommission "Doping and Biochemistry of Sport" informed the Heads of the "IOC Accredited Laboratories" that the recommended cut-off limit for reporting an offence was to be 1-2 ng ml(-1) urine for either 19-NA or 19-NE. We will discuss how technical progress in gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry permitted a dramatic increase in sensitivity with a detection limit of 1 pg ml(-1) urine, or less, and an assay limit of 20-50 pg ml(-1) urine, for either 19-NA or 19-NE. As a paradox, norsteroids have been known for decades as not only xenobiotics but also obligatory endogenous intermediates in the biosynthesis of estrogens from androgens in all species, man included. It is this biochemical observation which fed the active scientific and medical controversy initiated in 1998 over the possibly endogenous production of nandrolone and metabolites well over the new IOC's recommended cut-off limit of 2 ng ml(-1) urine. Notwithstanding the particular technical difficulties attached, we will provide data and discuss the minute endogenous levels detected and measured in man either at rest, after performance or training and compare them to the relatively high levels reported in male athlete's doping controls today. We will also discuss data on the pharmacological effects of some contraceptive therapies containing norsteroids in women. In view of the well-documented noxious effects repeatedly observed after anabolic steroid misuse, the confirmation and implementation of technically proven procedures for reporting norsteroid abuse in sports seems an important enough goal to protect athlete's health against such abuses and justifies up dating the review of the patent scientific and medical experience and knowledge gained over the last 50 years on nandrolone and its minor production in man and woman.

Evidence for ozone formation in human atherosclerotic arteries.

Here, we report evidence for the production of ozone in human disease. Signature products unique to cholesterol ozonolysis are present within atherosclerotic tissue at the time of carotid endarterectomy, suggesting that ozone production occurred during lesion development. Furthermore, advanced atherosclerotic plaques generate ozone when the leukocytes within the diseased arteries are activated in vitro. The steroids produced by cholesterol ozonolysis cause effects that are thought to be critical to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including cytotoxicity, lipid-loading in macrophages, and deformation of the apolipoprotein B-100 secondary structure. We propose the trivial designation "atheronals" for this previously unrecognized class of steroids.

A short formal synthesis of squalamine from a microbial metabolite.

A short formal synthesis of squalamine is described, utilizing the biotransformation product 2, which is available in one step from commercially available 3-keto-23,24-bisnorchol-4-en-22-ol (1). Regioselective C-22 oxidation and C-24 sulfation of the corresponding alcohols in the presence of a free C-7 alcohol make for an efficient preparation of squalamine intermediate 11.

Hepatic and ileal transport and effect on biliary secretion of norursocholic acid and its conjugates in rats.

The enterohepatic circulation of norursocholic acid (nUC) and its glycine (nUCG) and taurine (nUCT) conjugates was investigated in the rat; cholic acid (C) was studied as control. The biliary recovery of intravenously infused 14C-labeled bile acids was high: nUC, 88%; nUCG, 80%; nUCT, 99%, and C, 90%. Biliary recovery after the same bile acids were infused intraduodenally was similar: nUC, 90%; nUCG, 66%; nUCT, 97%; and C, 99%. The two conjugated bile acids, nUCG and nUCT, were not biotransformed during intestinal or hepatic transport; nUC was also secreted largely unchanged, but approximately 10% was secreted as an unknown conjugate or sulfate; C was completely conjugated with taurine or glycine. To compare the rates of active ileal transport, biliary recovery was measured after an in situ ileal perfusion technique. The rate of absorption of nUC, nUCG, and nUCT was one-fourth to one-half that of cholyltaurine, which served as control. Competition experiments indicated that the same transport system was involved. When infused intravenously, nUC, nUCG, and nUCT induced far less biliary lipid secretion than an identical dose of C; the secretion of both phospholipid and cholesterol was decreased, cholesterol to a greater extent than phospholipid. It is concluded that nUC and its conjugates are well transported by the ileum, are efficiently secreted into bile without undergoing appreciable hepatic biotransformation, and induce bile flow as other hydrophilic bile acids, but in contrast to C induce little phospholipid and cholesterol secretion into bile.

Conversion of 5(10)-oestrene-3 beta,17 beta-diol to 19-nor-4-ene-3-ketosteroids by luteal cells in vitro: possible involvement of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase.

We have previously suggested that in porcine granulosa cells, a putative intermediate, 5(10)-oestrene-3,17-dione is involved in 4-oestrene-3,17-dione (19-norandrostenedione; 19-norA) and 4-oestren-17 beta-ol-3-one (19-nortestosterone: 19-norT) formation from C19 aromatizable androgens. In this study, luteal cells prepared from porcine, bovine and rat corpora lutea by centrifugal elutriation were used as a source of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase in order to investigate the role of this enzyme in the biosynthesis of 19-norsteroids. Small porcine luteal cells made mainly 19-norT and large porcine luteal cells 19-norA from 5(10)-oestrene-3 beta,17 beta-diol, the reduced product of the putative intermediate 5(10)-oestrene-3,17-dione. However, neither small nor large cells metabolized androstenedione to 19-norsteroids. Serum and serum plus LH significantly stimulated formation of both 19-norA and 19-norT from 5(10)-oestrene-3 beta,17 beta-diol, compared with controls. Inhibitors of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (trilostane and cyanoketone) significantly reduced formation of 19-norT in small porcine luteal cells and 19-norA in large porcine luteal cells, although they were effective at different concentrations in each cell type. In parallel incubations, formation of [4-14C]androstenedione from added [4-14C]dehydroepiandrosterone was also inhibited by cyanoketone in both small and large porcine luteal cells in a dose-dependent manner; however, trilostane (up to 100 mumol/l) did not inhibit androstenedione formation in large porcine luteal cells. In addition, the decrease in progesterone synthesis induced by trilostane and cyanoketone (100 mumol/l each) was accompanied by a parallel accumulation of pregnenolone in both cell types. These results suggest that 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, or a closely related enzyme, present in small and large porcine luteal cells can convert added 5(10)-3 beta-hydroxysteroids into 19-nor-4(5)-3-ketosteroids in vitro. In the porcine ovarian follicle, therefore, formation of 19-norA from androstenedione can be envisaged as a two-step enzymatic process: 19-demethylation of androstenedione to produce the putative intermediate 5(10)-oestrene-3,17-dione, and subsequent isomerization to 19-norA. In contrast to granulosa cells, porcine luteal cells synthesized 19-norA or 19-norT only when provided with the appropriate substrate. Unfractionated rat luteal cells also metabolized 5(10)-oestrene-3 beta,17 beta-diol to a mixture of 19-norA and 19-norT; conversion was inhibited by trilostane. In addition, small bovine luteal cells synthesized mainly 19-norT and formation was also inhibited by trilostane and cyanoketone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Progestágenos: quando e por quê / Progestins: when and why

Os progestágenos, derivados de 17-hidroxiprogesterona ou da 19-nortestosterona, correspondem a um grupo de moléculas cuja manipulaçäo farmacológica tornou seu metabolismo mais lento e permitiu sua utilizaçäo por via oral. Estas modificaçöes promoveram também variaçöes em sua atividade. Desta forma, podem mimetizar algumas das açöes do hormônio natural, via receptor de progesterona, mas podem também exercer outros efeitos, de acordo com a molécula da qual derivam e de sua capacidade de se ligar a outros receptores de esteróides. Neste artigo, säo revisadas as propriedades dos progestágenos disponíveis comercialmente (luteomimética, antigonadotrófica, antiestrogênica ou antiandrogênica) e suas indicaçöes terapêuticas específicas

Steroids in equine testes: the identification of endogenous 19-hydroxy and 19-nor neutral steroids by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry.

After homogenization of testicular tissue from stallions aged 1, 2 and 5 years, the unconjugated and conjugated steroids were isolated by a combined solvent-solid extraction procedure. The conjugates were further separated into glucuronides and sulphates by chromatography using Sephadex LH-20. After enzyme hydrolysis and solvolysis of the respective conjugate classes, the three extracts, unconjugated steroids, aglycones and solvolysed sulphates, were purified by chromatography using Kieselgel 60H columns. Five fractions were resolved from each extract; an aliquot of each fraction was derivatized to form the methoxime-trimethylsilyl ethers and the steroids were identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results have shown that in stallion testes (1) steroidogenesis proceeds by both the 4-ene and the 5-ene pathways, (2) age-linked changes occur in both unconjugated and sulphoconjugated steroid fractions and (3) 19-hydroxy androgens and the 19-nor (C18) neutral steroids (19-norandrostenedione and 19-nortestosterone) are detected only in the unconjugated fraction whereas oestrene, the isomers of oestradiol and of 5(10)-oestrene-3,17-diol are the only steroids detected in the sulphoconjugate fraction. It is suggested that the unconjugated 19-oxygenated androgens present in stallion testes are converted to 19-nor neutral steroids by a reverse aldol reaction and a mechanism showing the putative intermediates in their formation is illustrated.

Interaction of A-nor, A, 19-dinor, and A-homo-5 alpha-androstane derivatives with the androgen receptor and the epididymal androgen-binding protein.

The equilibrium affinity constant for rat prostate androgen receptor and epididymal androgen binding protein (ABP) has been determined for thirty-four potential progestogens. Three A-nor-, four A,19-dinor-, and one A-homo-5 alpha-androstane derivative bind to the androgen receptor (KD less than 0.5 muM). Five of these compounds also bind to ABP with an affinity of the same order of magnitude. "Anordrin" (compound 24) and "Dinordrins" (compounds 10, 14, 15, 16, 17), which are potential female contraceptives, do not bind with high affinity to the androgen receptor or to ABP. The following modifications in A-nor derivatives favour binding to the receptor as compared to ABP: 19-nor substitution (compound 1), C-18 methyl homologation (compound 5), 2 alpha-ethinylation (compound 22). One 2 alpha-allenyl A-nor derivative (compound 25) and one A-homo derivative (compound 34) bind almost exclusively to ABP. The interaction with either binding protein is decreased by oxidation or esterification of the hydroxyl group at C-17, and by addition of a 17 alpha-ethinyl group. The latter modifications are likely to increase the specificity of androstane derivatives for receptors other than androgen binding proteins, such as the progesterone receptor.

19-nor analogs of adrenal steroids: mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor activity.

The effect of absence of the C-19 methyl group from five adrenal steroids has been studied in terms of their affinity for mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR). In MR assays, 19-nordeoxycorticosterone and 19-norprogesterone showed 3-fold higher affinity for MR than did their respective parent steroids; 19-norcortisol had 1.5 times the affinity of cortisol for MR. In contrast, corticosterone and 19-nororticosterone showed equal affinity, and 19-noraldosterone showed less than 1% the MR activity of aldosterone. In GR assays, the absence of the C-19 methyl group from progesterone increased GR affinity 3-fold and deoxycorticosterone affinity 1.5-fold. In contrast, the other 19-nor steroids showed decreased affinity vis à vis their parent compounds (19-norcorticosterone, 30%; 19-norcortisol, 10%; 19-noraldosterone, < 1%). These findings suggest that while the 19-nor analogs of 11-deoxy steroids are consistently more active than their parent steroid, the 19-nor 11-oxygenated adrenal steroids show no predictable pattern of binding for MR or GR.

Receptor binding of B-norsteroids.

The binding of B-nor-analogues of glucocorticoids, estrogens and of an androgen to specific cytosol receptors was compared with that of parent compounds of the normal series. In the study of binding of B-norcortisol and related compounds rat liver cytosol was used, while in a case of B-norestrogens rat uterus cytosol and for 17 alpha-methyl-B-nortestosterone rat prostate cytosol was used. The displacement of the appropriate radioligands by B-norsteroids was remarkably lower than that caused by correspondinga steroids with normal B-ring with the exception of 17 alpha-methyl-B-nortestosterone.

24-Nor-5beta-chol-22-enes derived from the major bile acids by oxidative decarboxylation.

The preparation of 24-nor-5beta-chol-22-enes from formyloxy-5beta-cholanic acids by oxidative decarboxylation with lead tetraacetate is described. NMR data is presented with other physical constants for the norcholenes derived from cholic, chenodeoxycholic, ursodeoxycholic, hyodeoxycholic, and deoxycholic acids. The facile synthesis of these norcholenes demonstrates the applicability of the formyloxy protecting group to oxidative decarboxylations in the bile acid series.