[INFLUENCE OF PROGESTERONE DERIVATIVES ON THE VIABILITY AND EXPRESSION OF ESTROGEN RECEPTOR-ALPHA MRNA IN HELA CELLS.]

We have studied the effect of new ligands of progesterone receptors, including pregna-D'-pentaran 6-methoxyimino-16a,17a-cyclohexanopregn-4-en-3,20-dio-ne (K1047), 17a-acetoxy-3b-butanoyloxy-6-methylpregna-4,6-dien-20-one (buterol), progesterone (P4), and medroxyprogesterone acetate on the viability of HeLa cells and expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (Era) mRNA gene in these cells. K1I047 and buterol exhibited high cytostatic activity, which exceeded the activity of reference compounds on the average by 15% (p < 0.05). Both buterol and K-1047 (at 10(-6)M) effectively suppressed ERa mRNA gene expression in HeLa cell culture by 83.4 - 9 8.6%.

[ANTIOXIDANT AND CYTOPROTECTOR PROPERTIES OF GENISTEIN - ISOFLAVONE WITH ESTROGENIC ACTIVITY.]

Phytoestrogen genistein can exhibit cytoprotective and antioxidant properties, providing chemopreventive action, and produce cytotoxic effects on some tu- mors. In this work, the cytotoxic, cytoprotective, and antioxidant properties of genistein have been studied on model tumor cells (human cervical cancer HeLa cells) and normal cells (rat dermal fibroblasts, RDF). For assessing the cytotoxic effect of genistein (spectrophotometric MTT assay), the reference drug was cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (cisplatin); for evaluating antioxidant action, beta-estradiol was the reference drug. It is established that genistein produces a cyto- toxic effect only at high concentrations, IC50 = 20 mM and 14 mM for RDF and HeLa cells, respectively, which is 30 and 10 times higher than IC50 for cisplatin on these cells. Genistein like estradiol, but unlike cisplatin, had no effect on the mitochondrial pore induction from rat liver mitochondria. Thus, genistein at physiological concentrations (up to 200 n) acts as a cytoprotective agent. High antioxidant activity of genistein also suggests the possibility of its use as a chemopreventive drug.

[Cytoprotective Effects of Phytoestrogen Genistein against Cancer Cells].

In this paper we study the effect of synthetic isoflavonoid genistein against cancer HeLa cells, which contain estrogen receptors alpha but not beta, with the aim to determine the cytotoxic or cytoprotective effect of genistein. It is shown that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of genistein (0.2 mM) for the growth inhibition of HeLa cells is at least ten times higher than that one of tamoxifen and cisplatin--drugs, used in cervical cancer treatment. In micromolar concentrations (0.1-10 µM) genistein decreased the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin and tamoxifen. The decreased Bax mRNA expression and increased Bcl-2 mRNA expression after incubation .of the cells with genistein also demonstrate the cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic effect of genistein. Genistein, even in high concentrations, had no effect on membrane potential and calcium capacity of isolated mitochondria, without activating the opening of Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial pore. Thus, these data demonstrate a cytoprotective effect of isoflavonoid genistein against this type of cancer cells.

[Antitumor and antiproliferative action of the steroidal cytostatic antiestrogen cytestrol acetate on hormone-dependent tumor models].

Cytestrole acetate (CA), in the structure of which the steroidal antiestrogen component is associated with bis-ß-cloroethylamino group, exhibits a strong cytotoxic activity against hormone-dependent cancer cell lines (CaOV, HeLa, MCF-7). In doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 cells, CA potentiates the cytotoxic effect of etoposide and doxorubicin, and the IC50 for CA in these cells is 40 times lower than that for tamoxifen (TAM). In transplantable mice breast adenocarcinoma Ca-755, the therapeutic CA dose is 25 mg/kg when administered subcutaneously in oil solution for 5 days. On the DMBA-induced mammary tumors in rats, CA injected subcutaneously led to partial regressions 4 weeks after treatment in 75% of test rats, whereas TAM produced this effect in 43% of rats. Among various drug forms of CA, the most active were oil solution of CA in gelatin capsules for oral use and liposomal emulsion for intravenous administration, since these forms exhibited the highest values of Ca-755 tumor growth inhibition index (TGI = 97 - 98%).

[Effect of steroid hormones on production of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria].

Among the targets of the steroid hormones are mitochondria, which as the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell play a central role in the development of various pathologies. We studied the effect of progesterone and its synthetic analogues on mitochondrial ROS production. It was found that progesterone activates the formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in mitochondria during oxidation of complex I substrates of the respiratory chain and exerts no influence on production of ROS during oxidation of succinate, complex II substrate of the respiratory chain. Synthetic analogues of progesterone - medroxyprogesterone acetate, buterol, acetomepregenol, megestrol acetate, have different effects on ROS production, depending on their chemical structure. By the effectiveness of impact on ROS production in mitochondria all the steroids tested can be classified in the descending order as follows: progesterone > buterol > or = atsetomepregenol > medroxyprogesterone acetate > megestrol acetate. Activation of ROS production by progesterone and buterol has different mechanisms: progesterone acts as an inhibitor of NAD-dependent respiration, while buterol and acetomepregenol form noncovalently associated complexes by hydrogen bonds between the ester carbonyl at C3 and SH-groups of the respective targets.

[Proliferative activity of rat skin fibroblasts under the action of glucocorticoids and gestagens].

Temporal and concentration dependences of the effect of the new synthetic gestagen 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-one (ABMP) and reference glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and hydrocortisone) and progesterone on the proliferative activity of rat skin fibroblasts were examined using the MTT assay. The results demonstrated that ABMP along with glucocorticoids produced an antiproliferative action against fibroblasts, with the maximum (38%) suppression of the metabolic activity of cells observed after 5-day incubation at a drug concentration of 10(-5) M.

[Interaction of the new gestagen compound 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methylpregna-4,6-dien-20-one with human blood proteins and calf embryo serum].

Molecular mechanisms of sex hormones (progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and new synthetic gestagen 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methylpregna-4,6-dien-20-on (ABMP) with human serum albumin, globulins, and calf embryo serum were studied. The binding of ABMP to albumin and progesterone-binding proteins were investigated using spectroscopic techniques (with the use of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate as fluorescent probe) and radiolabeled progesterone, (either progesteron or MPA as comparative progestines). There is no difference between the non-specific binding of ABMP, progesterone, and MPA, but the ABMP binding is much smaller as compared to the binding of progestines, so that the new progestine ABMP will produce a more effective action on the target tissue than comparative progestines.

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of 3-[4-bis-N,N-(2- chloroethyl)aminophenyl]acetates of estrane series.

Collision-induced fragmentation of the [M + Na]+ and [M + H]+ ions generated from 3-[4-bis-N,N-(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl]acetates in the estrane series under electrospray/ionization was studied. Some regularities in fragmentation pathways depending on the nature of functional groups were established. Formation of the [(M + Na) NaCl]+ ions along with [(M + Na) HCl]+ ions from the [M + Na]+ ions was explained using quantum chemical calculations for some simplified models.

[A new Russian gestagen with anticancer activity].

The authors present results obtained in a complex study of 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-on (ABMP). ABMP was shown to differ from existing analogues by high gestagen activity and prolonged action. The substance does not possess androgenic or mineralocorticoid activity, is not toxic when used in high doses, and possesses significant cytostatic and chemiosensitizing activity. These properties of ABMP demonstrate that the substance should be studied in clinical setting as a gestagen with anticancer and chemiosensitizing activity for further application to therapy of hyperplastic processes in the female genital system and tumors that are sensitive to female sex hormones.

Combined effect of bis-beta-chloroethylamine estrogen derivatives and doxorubicin on proliferation of sensitive and resistant MCF-7 cells.

The sensitivity of normal (MCF-7/WT) and doxorubicin-resistant (MCF-7/R) breast cancer cells to the antiproliferative effect of ethynylestradiol 11alpha-derivatives with the cytostatic residue in the 3-position of the steroid ring (antiestrogen cytostatics) was studied by evaluating cell viability using methylthiazole tetrazolium staining. The antiproliferative effects of these agents on cell lines in the presence of doxorubicin were compared. Antiestrogen cytostatics produced weaker cytostatic effect on MCF-7/WT cells, but more potent cytostatic effect on MCF-7/WT cells compared to those of doxorubicin. Moreover, administration of these agents in combination with doxorubicin more significantly suppressed proliferation of tumor cells. Accumulation and efflux of cytostatic doxorubicin in MCF-7/R cells were studied in the presence and absence of antiestrogen cytostatic Po716. Confocal laser microscopy showed that doxorubicin accumulation in MCF-7/R cells in the absence of Po716 took 20 min, while in the presence of antiestrogen cytostatic this process took 5 min. The rate of doxorubicin transport from tumor cells was much lower in the presence of the test antiestrogen cytostatic. Our results suggest that antiestrogen cytostatics increase the sensitivity of resistant MCF-7/R cells to doxorubicin by modulating the mechanisms of multidrug resistance of tumor cells.

[Genomic and extragenomic mechanisms of antiglucocorticoid action of gestagens on thymocytes].

Effects of a new synthetic progesterone derivative 17a-acetoxy-3b-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-one (ABMP) and the reference gestagen preparations on the rat thymus were evaluated by the degree of variation of the intracellular levels of calcium and cAMP, 3H-uridine inclusion into RNA, thymocyte viability, and thymus mass. It is shown that gestagens can produce antiglucocorticoid action on thymocytes, this activity being most pronounced in the case of ABMP.

[Cytotoxic steroids with antiestrogenic activity of the 11alpha-acyloxyestra-1,3,5(10)-triene series].

Esterification of 3-hydroxyl group in 11-acyloxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trienes with p-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenylacetic acid led to antitumor steroids displaying antiestrogenic and cytotoxic activities. Our substances exhibit their activities on the model of murine mammary adenocarcinoma Ca-755, with inhibition of the tumor growth being 94-99%. A new approach was used for the 11alpha-hydroxylation of estra-1,3,5(10)-trienes.

Letter: steric effects in electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry of 11betanitrates of estrane series.

The fragmentation of [M+Na](+) ions produced from steroid 11beta-nitrates during electrospray/ionization (ESI) was studied by using ion trap MS/MS technique. The [M+Na](+) ions eliminate NO(2) and HNO(3) for epimers bearing 9beta and 9alpha substituents, respectively. As the main fragmentation pathways are determined mainly by the configuration at C-9 and alternative fragmentation does not practically occur, this offers the possibility for the determination of the configuration at chiral C-9 centre in the estrane 11beta-nitrate series by ESI mass spectrometry.

[Antitumor activity of the new gestagen 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-one]. / Izuchenie protivoopukholevoi aktivnosti novogo gestagena 17 al'fa-atsetoksi-3 beta-butanoiloksi-6-metil-pregna-4,6-dien-20-ona.

Antitumor activity of a new highly active promising gestagen 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-one (butagest) was studied in mice with model cervical carcinoma (RShM-5). The reference drug was medroxyprogesteron acetate (MPA, Depo Provera) used in clinics. The new preparation introduced perorally in a dose of 1 mg per mice inhibited the model tumor growth by 73%, which was 18% (p < 0.01) more effective than the action of the reference drug MPA. The effect of the new gestagen was also studied in vitro with respect to human breast carcinoma of the MCF-7 line and human cervical carcinoma HeLa. The viability of the tumor cells was studied during a 6-day incubation with the drug at a concentration of 10(-7)-10(-5) M (MTT test). The reference compounds were progesterone and MPA. These drugs suppressed the growth of both MCF-7 and, in higher concentrations, of HeLa. Butagest inhibited the growth of HeLa in all concentrations. Thus, the new gestagen 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-one is capable of suppressing the viability of human breast carcinoma and human cervical carcinoma, being comparable or even more effective than the reference drugs.

[Anti-arrhythmia activity of estradiol valerate and estradiol nitrate]. / Issledovanie antiaritmicheskikh svoistv éstradiola valerata i nitrata éstradiola.

Estradiol valerate and estradiol nitrate exhibit significant antiarrhythmic activity of on the aconitine arrhythmia model in rats. In both cases, the maximum effect was observed in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg.

Combined action of doxorubicin and gestagens on doxorubicin-sensitive and doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 cells.

The combined cytostatic effect of doxorubicin and gestagens progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, mecigestone, and butagest on doxorubicin-resistant and doxorubicin-sensitive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells was studied by the MTT assay. On the 6th day of incubation progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, mecigestone, and butagest in high concentrations (10(-5) M) potentiated the cytostatic action of doxorubicin in sensitive and resistant cells by 30-50%. Potentiation of the cytostatic effect produced by doxorubicin in sensitive cells is related to intrinsic cytotoxic activity of gestagens. In resistant cells these changes are associated with potentiation of the effect of doxorubicin.

Influence of estrogen cytostatics on activity of plasma membrane enzymes 5'-nucleotidase and N+-K+-ATPase.

We studied the effect of four conjugated synthetic derivatives of estrone and ethynylestradiol and bis-beta-chloroethylamine-containing substance on activity of plasma membrane enzymes 5'-nucleotidase and N+-K+-ATPase. As differentiated from precursors, estrogen cytostatics decreased activity of plasma membrane enzymes. Reference preparations chlorophenacyl and estradiol had little effect on activity of 5'-nucleotidase and N+-K+-ATPase. These data suggest that damage to plasma membrane enzymes is related to the effect of estrogen cytostatic molecules. Test compounds produced an antiproliferative effect on estrogen-independent tumor cells, which strongly correlated with a decrease in activity of plasma membrane enzymes 5'-nucleotidase and N+-K+-ATPase. The derivative of ethynylestradiol with the cytostatic residue in the 3-position of the steroid nucleus (Po-714-11alpha) most significantly modulated enzyme activity.

[Comparative evaluation of the antiradical and antioxidant activity of estrogens and their nitro derivatives]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka antiradikal'noi i antioksidantnoi aktivnosti éstrogenov i ikh nitroproizvodnykh.

Estradiol, ethynylestradiol, and estradiol acetate possess antiradical activity (K7 = (1.8-2.0) x 10(-4) liter/mole sec). Nistranol exhibits antiradical properties only upon acid hydrolysis. The results of experiments with egg yolk liposomes showed evidence of a pronounced antioxidant activity of estradiol, ethynylestradiol, and estradiol nitrate, and the absence of such activity in nistranol. In the experiments on rat heart homogenates, nitroestrogens in a concentration of about 10(-4) M reduced the level of TBA-active products.

Binding of bis-beta-chloroethylamine derivatives of synthetic estrogens to proteins: dependence on the chemical structure.

We studied binding of 10 new bis-beta-chloroethylamine derivatives of synthetic estrogens of different chemical structure to estradiol receptors in cytosolic fraction of breast carcinoma tissue and to blood plasma proteins. 11alpha-derivatives of estrone and ethynylestradiol with bis-beta-chloroethylamine radical at the 3-position were most potent, while 11beta-substances with the cytostatic residue in this position less effectively competed with labeled estradiol for estradiol receptors. Estrone derivatives with cytostatic residue at the 3-position bound primarily to serum albumin. Ethynylestradiol derivatives with cytostatic residue at the 3-position of the steroid nucleus bound to plasma globulins. Cytostatic radical at the 11-position changed spatial conformation of estrogen cytostatics and they lost their ability to interact with estradiol receptors and blood plasma proteins.

Effects of synthetic bis-beta-chloroethylamine estrogen derivatives on proliferation of skin sarcoma cells.

The effects of four new synthetic bis-beta-chloroethylamine-containing estrogens and known cytostatic agents chlorophenacyl and estradiol mustard were compared on monolayer cultures of transformed L-929 fibroblasts (from murine skin sarcoma). The drugs within the concentration range of 10(-5)-5 10(-7)M inhibited proliferation of cultured cells by 67%. Chlorophenacyl displayed the least antiproliferative activity (15% inhibition at 10(-5) M). Steroid nucleus introduced into the molecule enhanced antiproliferative activity of test drug in comparison with chlorophenacyl, probably due to accumulation of the hormone-cytostatic molecules in cells. Estradiol had no effect on proliferative activity of L-929 cells, and no specific estrogen-binding sites were found in cultured transformed fibroblasts. The antiproliferative effect of hormone-cytostatics on this culture is not mediated via specific interactions with estrogen receptors.