Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in the central nervous system mediate various functions, including cognition, memory, or reward. Therefore, muscarinic receptors represent potential pharmacological targets for various diseases and conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, addiction, epilepsy, or depression. Muscarinic receptors are allosterically modulated by neurosteroids and steroid hormones at physiologically relevant concentrations. In this review, we focus on the modulation of muscarinic receptors by neurosteroids and steroid hormones in the context of diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. Further, we propose the potential use of neuroactive steroids in the development of pharmacotherapeutics for these diseases and conditions.
Steroids with a nitrogen-containing heterocycle in the side chain are known as effective inhibitors of androgen signaling and/or testosterone biosynthesis, thus showing beneficial effects for the treatment of prostate cancer. In this work, a series of 3β-hydroxy-5-ene steroids, containing an isoxazole fragment in their side chain, was synthesized. The key steps included the preparation of Weinreb amide, its conversion to acetylenic ketones, and the 1,2- or 1,4-addition of hydroxylamine, depending on the solvent used. The biological activity of the obtained compounds was studied in a number of tests, including their effects on 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activity of human CYP17A1 and the ability of selected compounds to affect the downstream androgen receptor signaling. Three derivatives diminished the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor and displayed reasonable antiproliferative activity. The candidate compound, 24j (17R)-17-((3-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)isoxazol-5-yl)methyl)-androst-5-en-3β-ol, suppressed the androgen receptor signaling and decreased its protein level in two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and LAPC-4. Interaction of compounds with CYP17A1 and the androgen receptor was confirmed and described by molecular docking.
- MeSH
- androgenní receptory metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádory prostaty * farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- protinádorové látky * chemie MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- steroid-17-alfa-hydroxylasa metabolismus MeSH
- steroidy farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are membrane receptors involved in many physiological processes. Malfunction of muscarinic signaling is a cause of various internal diseases, as well as psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Cholesterol, neurosteroids, neuroactive steroids, and steroid hormones are molecules of steroid origin that, besides having well-known genomic effects, also modulate membrane proteins including muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Here, we review current knowledge on the allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptors by these steroids. We give a perspective on the research on the non-genomic effects of steroidal compounds on muscarinic receptors and drug development, with an aim to ultimately exploit such knowledge.
Approximately one third of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) carry pathogenic variants in one of the many associated genes. The WT1 gene coding for the WT1 transcription factor is among the most frequently affected genes. Cases from the Czech national SRNS database were sequenced for exons 8 and 9 of the WT1 gene. Eight distinct exonic WT1 variants in nine children were found. Three children presented with isolated SRNS, while the other six manifested with additional features. To analyze the impact of WT1 genetic variants, wild type and mutant WT1 proteins were prepared and the DNA-binding affinity of these proteins to the target EGR1 sequence was measured by microscale thermophoresis. Three WT1 mutants showed significantly decreased DNA-binding affinity (p.Arg439Pro, p.His450Arg and p.Arg463Ter), another three mutants showed significantly increased binding affinity (p.Gln447Pro, p.Asp469Asn and p.His474Arg), and the two remaining mutants (p.Cys433Tyr and p.Arg467Trp) showed no change of DNA-binding affinity. The protein products of WT1 pathogenic variants had variable DNA-binding affinity, and no clear correlation with the clinical symptoms of the patients. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of action of the distinct WT1 mutants; this could potentially lead to individualized treatment of a so far unfavourable disease.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- DNA terapeutické užití MeSH
- léková rezistence MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- nefrotický syndrom * farmakoterapie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny WT1 * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- steroidy farmakologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
This review comprehensively describes the recent advances in the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of steroid polyamines squalamine, trodusquemine, ceragenins, claramine, and their diverse analogs and derivatives, with a special focus on their complete synthesis from cholic acids, as well as an antibacterial and antiviral, neuroprotective, antiangiogenic, antitumor, antiobesity and weight-loss activity, antiatherogenic, regenerative, and anxiolytic properties. Trodusquemine is the most-studied small-molecule allosteric PTP1B inhibitor. The discovery of squalamine as the first representative of a previously unknown class of natural antibiotics of animal origin stimulated extensive research of terpenoids (especially triterpenoids) comprising polyamine fragments. During the last decade, this new class of biologically active semisynthetic natural product derivatives demonstrated the possibility to form supramolecular networks, which opens up many possibilities for the use of such structures for drug delivery systems in serum or other body fluids.
- MeSH
- antiinfekční látky chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- biologické přípravky chemie farmakologie MeSH
- cholestanoly chemie MeSH
- cholestany chemie MeSH
- inhibitory angiogeneze chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neuroprotektivní látky chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- protinádorové látky chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- spermin analogy a deriváty chemie MeSH
- steroidy chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- triterpeny chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- vodní organismy chemie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Evidence from clinical and preclinical studies implicates dysfunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in schizophrenia progression and symptoms. We investigated the antipsychotic effect of two neuroactive steroids in an animal model of schizophrenia induced by systemic application of MK-801. The neuroactive steroids differ in their mechanism of action at NMDARs. MS-249 is positive, while PA-Glu is a negative allosteric NMDAR modulator. We hypothesized that the positive NMDA receptor modulator would attenuate deficits caused by MK-801 co-application more effectively than PA-Glu. The rats were tested in a battery of tests assessing spontaneous locomotion, anxiety and cognition. Contrary to our expectations, PA-Glu exhibited a superior antipsychotic effect to MS-249. The performance of MS-249-treated rats in cognitive tests differed depending on the level of stress the rats were exposed to during test sessions. In particular, with the increasing severity of stress exposure, the performance of animals worsened. Our results demonstrate that enhancement of NMDAR function may result in unspecific behavioral responses. Positive NMDAR modulation can influence other neurobiological processes besides memory formation, such as anxiety and response to stress.
- MeSH
- antipsychotika farmakologie MeSH
- bicyklické sloučeniny heterocyklické metabolismus MeSH
- chování zvířat účinky léků MeSH
- dizocilpinmaleát farmakologie MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- potkani Long-Evans MeSH
- potkani Wistar MeSH
- pregnenolon metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- receptory N-methyl-D-aspartátu antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus MeSH
- schizofrenie farmakoterapie metabolismus MeSH
- steroidy farmakologie MeSH
- test vyvýšeného křížového bludiště MeSH
- úleková reakce účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Six new (1, 2, 6, 8, 13, and 20) and twenty previously isolated (3-5, 7, 9-12, 14-19, and 21-26) steroids featuring thirteen different carbocycle motifs were isolated from the organic extract of the soft coral Sinularia polydactyla collected from the Hurghada reef in the Red Sea. The structures and the relative configurations of the isolated natural products have been determined based on extensive analysis of their NMR and MS data. The cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and neuroprotective activity of compounds 3-7, 9-12, 14-20, and 22-26, as well as their effect on androgen receptor-regulated transcription was evaluated in vitro in human tumor and non-cancerous cells. Steroids 22 and 23 showed significant cytotoxicity in the low micromolar range against the HeLa and MCF7 cancer cell lines, while migration of endothelial cells was inhibited by compounds 11, 12, 22, and 23 at 20 µM. The results of the androgen receptor (AR) reporter assay showed that compound 11 exhibited the strongest inhibition of AR at 10 µM, while it is noteworthy that steroids 10, 16, and 20 displayed increased inhibition of AR with decreasing concentrations. Additionally, compounds 11 and 23 showed neuroprotective activity on neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells.
- MeSH
- antiflogistika izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- endoteliální buňky pupečníkové žíly (lidské) účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- fyziologická neovaskularizace účinky léků MeSH
- HeLa buňky MeSH
- inhibitory angiogeneze izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- korálnatci chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- MFC-7 buňky MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- nádory farmakoterapie metabolismus patologie MeSH
- neurony účinky léků metabolismus patologie MeSH
- neuroprotektivní látky izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- protinádorové látky izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- steroidy izolace a purifikace farmakologie MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Indický oceán MeSH
The first review article on steroid dimers by Li and Dias in 1997, followed by the second review and a book on steroid dimers by Nahar and Sarker in 2007 and 2012, respectively, covered steroid dimers reported until the end of 2010. Since then, there have been considerable amounts of research carried out on steroid dimers, prompting the need for another comprehensive review on this topic. Therefore, this present review appraises the literature published during the period 2011-2019 on various aspects of steroid dimers, including isolation from natural sources, synthesis and applications. A structured and systematic literature search was performed, using the key words: steroid dimer, steroidal dimer, dimeric steroid, bis-steroid, bis-steroidal conjugates, molecular umbrella, cephalostatins, ritterazines and crellastatins. Several databases like Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar were consulted. During the period covered in this review, well over 200 new synthetic steroidal dimers, ring A-ring A connection being the major group, have been reported, only one natural steroid dimer has been isolated, and potential applications of steroid dimers in the treatment of cancers and tumors, and microbial infections have been indicated.
The androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid hormone receptor and its high expression and disruption of its regulation are strongly implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) development. One of the current therapies includes application of steroidal antiandrogens leading to blockade of the AR action by the abrogation of AR-mediated signaling. We introduced here novel 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-fused steroidal compounds, described their synthesis based on [8π+2π] cycloaddition reactions of diazafulvenium methides with different steroidal scaffolds and showed their biological evaluation in different prostate cancer cell lines in vitro. Our results showed the ability of novel compounds to suppress the expression of known androgen receptor targets, Nkx3.1 and PSA in two prostate cell lines, 22Rv1 and VCaP. Candidate compound diminished the transcription of AR-regulated genes in the reporter cell line in a concentration-dependent manner. Antiproliferative activity of the most promising steroid was studied by clonogenic assay and induction of apoptosis in treated cells was documented by immunoblot detection of cleaved PARP.
- MeSH
- androgenní receptory metabolismus MeSH
- homeodoménové proteiny metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádory prostaty farmakoterapie MeSH
- protinádorové látky chemická syntéza metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- pyrazoly chemická syntéza metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- pyridiny chemická syntéza metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- steroidy chemická syntéza metabolismus farmakologie MeSH
- transkripční faktory metabolismus MeSH
- vazebná místa MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Here, we report the synthesis of pregn-5-ene and androst-5-ene dicarboxylic acid esters and explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for their modulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). All compounds were positive modulators of recombinant GluN1/GluN2B receptors (EC50 varying from 1.8 to 151.4 μM and Emax varying from 48% to 452%). Moreover, 10 compounds were found to be more potent GluN1/GluN2B receptor modulators than endogenous pregnenolone sulfate (EC50 = 21.7 μM). The SAR study revealed a relationship between the length of the residues at carbon C-3 of the steroid molecule and the positive modulatory effect at GluN1/GluN2B receptors for various D-ring modifications. A selected compound, 20-oxo-pregnenolone hemiadipate, potentiated native NMDARs to a similar extent as GluN1/GluN2A-D receptors and inhibited AMPARs and GABAAR responses. These results provide a unique opportunity for the development of new steroid based drugs with potential use in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders involving hypofunction of NMDARs.
- MeSH
- alosterická regulace MeSH
- HEK293 buňky MeSH
- konformace proteinů MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modulátory membránového transportu chemie farmakologie MeSH
- molekulární modely MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- pregnenolon farmakologie MeSH
- receptory N-methyl-D-aspartátu antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus MeSH
- steroidy chemie farmakologie MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
