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Wang Y, Dong W, Zhang Q, Li ZP, Wang YX, Li XF, Huang LJ. Synthesis of 19-hydroxyprogesterone and insights into the ring-opening mechanism of the 6,19-epoxy bridge. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2023; 25:756-764. [PMID: 36369722 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2022.2144260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
An efficient and scalable process for the synthesis of 19-hydroxyprogesterone was obtained through seven steps with 34.5% total yield, which is much higher than the process reported in the literature (11.0% total yield). The plausible ring-opening mechanism of 6,19-epoxy bridge in compound 7 was first proposed and the structures of intermediates were supported by the LC-MS analysis of the reaction mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Wei Dong
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Zhen-Peng Li
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Yue-Xing Wang
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Xiu-Fen Li
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Long-Jiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory Base for Eco-Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
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Louw A. GR Dimerization and the Impact of GR Dimerization on GR Protein Stability and Half-Life. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1693. [PMID: 31379877 PMCID: PMC6653659 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacologically, glucocorticoids, which mediate their effects via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), are a most effective therapy for inflammatory diseases despite the fact that chronic use causes side-effects and acquired GC resistance. The design of drugs with fewer side-effects and less potential for the development of resistance is therefore considered crucial for improved therapy. Dimerization of the GR is an integral step in glucocorticoid signaling and has been identified as a possible molecular site to target for drug development of anti-inflammatory drugs with an improved therapeutic index. Most of the current understanding regarding the role of GR dimerization in GC signaling derives for dimerization deficient mutants, although the role of ligands biased toward monomerization has also been described. Even though designing for loss of dimerization has mostly been applied for reduction of side-effect profile, designing for loss of dimerization may also be a fruitful strategy for the development of GC drugs with less potential to develop GC resistance. GC-induced resistance affects up to 30% of users and is due to a reduction in the GR functional pool. Several molecular mechanisms of GC-mediated reductions in GR pool have been described, one of which is the autologous down-regulation of GR density by the ubiquitin-proteasome-system (UPS). Loss of GR dimerization prevents autologous down-regulation of the receptor through modulation of interactions with components of the UPS and post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as phosphorylation, which prime the GR for degradation. Rational design of conformationally biased ligands that select for a monomeric GR conformation, which increases GC sensitivity through improving GR protein stability and increasing half-life, may be a productive avenue to explore. However, potential drawbacks to this approach should be considered as well as the advantages and disadvantages in chronic vs. acute treatment regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Louw
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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3
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Potamitis C, Siakouli D, Papavasileiou KD, Boulaka A, Ganou V, Roussaki M, Calogeropoulou T, Zoumpoulakis P, Alexis MN, Zervou M, Mitsiou DJ. Discovery of New non-steroidal selective glucocorticoid receptor agonists. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 186:142-153. [PMID: 30321666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used as potent anti-inflammatory drugs; however, GC therapy is often accompanied by adverse side effects. The anti-inflammatory action of GCs is exerted through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in part by antagonizing the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor k B (NF-kB) whereas the majority of side effects are assumed to be mediated by transactivation of GR target genes. We set out to identify novel non-steroidal selective GR agonists (SEGRA) favoring transrepression of NF-kB target genes over transactivation of genes associated with undesirable effects. Our virtual screening protocol was driven by a pharmacophore model based on a pyrrolidinone amide analogue (named as 'compound 12' in Biggadike et al 2009, PNAS USA 106, 18,114) bound to the extended binding pocket of the GR ligand binding domain (GR-LBD). Ambinter library (7.8 million compounds) was queried by our validated pharmacophore hypothesis and the prioritized compounds were biologically evaluated using a series of well-established screening assays. Two structurally similar hits (1 and 13) were identified that bind to GR, induce its translocation to the nucleus, do not mediate transactivation of GR target genes whereas partially repress a number of pro-inflammatory NF-kB target genes, in a GR-dependent manner. Explanatory molecular dynamics (MD) calculations could detail the per-residue interactions accounting for the binding of 1 and 13 to the extended binding pocket of GR. The discovered 1,3-benzothiazole analogs introduce a new class of genuine SEGRA paving the way for hit-to-lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos Potamitis
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Siakouli
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos D Papavasileiou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece; National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Molecular Thermodynamics and Modelling of Materials Laboratory, GR-15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Greece
| | - Athina Boulaka
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Ganou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Marina Roussaki
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Calogeropoulou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Zoumpoulakis
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Michael N Alexis
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Zervou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece.
| | - Dimitra J Mitsiou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 116 35 Athens, Greece.
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4
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Jin Z, Lin H, Srinivasan S, Nwachukwu JC, Bruno N, Griffin PR, Nettles KW, Kamenecka TM. Synthesis of novel steroidal agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists for the glucocorticoid receptor. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 27:347-353. [PMID: 27919657 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Adverse effects of glucocorticoids could be limited by developing new compounds that selectively modulate anti-inflammatory activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We have synthesized a novel series of steroidal GR ligands, including potent agonists, partial agonists and antagonists with a wide range of effects on inhibiting secretion of interleukin-6. Some of these new ligands were designed to directly impact conformational stability of helix-12, in the GR ligand-binding domain (LBD). These compounds modulated GR activity and glucocorticoid-induced gene expression in a manner that was inversely correlated to the degree of inflammatory response. In contrast, compounds designed to directly modulate LBD epitopes outside helix-12, led to dissociated levels of GR-mediated gene expression and inflammatory response. Therefore, these new series of compounds and their derivatives will be useful to dissect the ligand-dependent features of GR signaling specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuang Jin
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Hua Lin
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Sathish Srinivasan
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Jerome C Nwachukwu
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Nelson Bruno
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Patrick R Griffin
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Kendall W Nettles
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Theodore M Kamenecka
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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5
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Smirnova OV. Competitive Agonists and Antagonists of Steroid Nuclear Receptors: Evolution of the Concept or Its Reversal. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2016; 80:1227-34. [PMID: 26567566 DOI: 10.1134/s000629791510003x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms displaying pure and mixed steroid agonist/antagonist activity as well as principles underlying in vivo action of selective steroid receptor modulators dependent on tissue or cell type including interaction with various types of nuclear receptors are analyzed in this work. Mechanisms of in vitro action for mixed agonist/antagonist steroids are discussed depending on: specific features of their interaction with receptor hormone-binding pocket; steroid-dependent allosteric modulation of interaction between hormone-receptor complex and hormone response DNA elements; features of interacting hormone-receptor complex with protein transcriptional coregulators; level and tissue-specific composition of transcriptional coregulators. A novel understanding regarding context-selective modulators replacing the concept of steroid agonists and antagonists is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- O V Smirnova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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6
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Rainville J, Pollard K, Vasudevan N. Membrane-initiated non-genomic signaling by estrogens in the hypothalamus: cross-talk with glucocorticoids with implications for behavior. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:18. [PMID: 25762980 PMCID: PMC4329805 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The estrogen receptor and glucocorticoid receptor are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that can signal using both non-genomic and genomic transcriptional modes. Though genomic modes of signaling have been well characterized and several behaviors attributed to this signaling mechanism, the physiological significance of non-genomic modes of signaling has not been well understood. This has partly been due to the controversy regarding the identity of the membrane ER (mER) or membrane GR (mGR) that may mediate rapid, non-genomic signaling and the downstream signaling cascades that may result as a consequence of steroid ligands binding the mER or the mGR. Both estrogens and glucocorticoids exert a number of actions on the hypothalamus, including feedback. This review focuses on the various candidates for the mER or mGR in the hypothalamus and the contribution of non-genomic signaling to classical hypothalamically driven behaviors and changes in neuronal morphology. It also attempts to categorize some of the possible functions of non-genomic signaling at both the cellular level and at the organismal level that are relevant for behavior, including some behaviors that are regulated by both estrogens and glucocorticoids in a potentially synergistic manner. Lastly, it attempts to show that steroid signaling via non-genomic modes may provide the organism with rapid behavioral responses to stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Rainville
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kevin Pollard
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nandini Vasudevan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- *Correspondence: Nandini Vasudevan, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, 2000 Percival Stern Hall, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA e-mail:
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7
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Regulation of corticosterone function during early weaning and effects on gastric cell proliferation. Nutrition 2014; 30:343-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Revised: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 09/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Jurka P, Szulc-Dąbrowska L, Borkowska J, Winnicka A. Lack of in vitro effect of aglepristone on IFN-γ and IL-4 production by resting and mitogen-activated T cells of luteal bitches. BMC Vet Res 2013; 9:220. [PMID: 24284004 PMCID: PMC3818567 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aglepristone (RU534) is an antiprogestin used for pregnancy termination, parturition induction and conservative pyometra treatment in bitches. Its molecular structure is similar to mifepristone, an antiprogestin used in human medicine. Mifepristone has been shown to suppress proliferation and cytokine production by T cells, whereas the effect of aglepristone on T cell function remains elusive. The purpose of this project was to investigate the in vitro influence of RU534 on IFN-γ and IL-4 synthesis by peripheral blood T cells isolated from healthy bitches (N = 16) in luteal phase. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were incubated with three different dosages of aglepristone, or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), with or without mitogen. The production of cytokines by resting or mitogen-activated T cells was determined by intercellular staining and flow cytometry analysis or ELISA assay, respectively. Results Our results showed no statistically significant differences in the percentage of IFN-γ and IL-4-synthesizing CD4+ or CD8+ resting T cells between untreated and aglepristone-treated cells at 24 and 48 hours post treatment. Moreover, mitogen-activated PBMCs treated with RU534 displayed similar concentration of IFN-γ and IL-4 in culture supernatants to those observed in mitogen-activated DMSO-treated PBMCs. Presented results indicate that administration of aglepristone for 48 hours has no influence on IFN-γ and IL-4 synthesis by resting and mitogen-activated T cells isolated from diestral bitches. Conclusions We conclude that antiprogestins may differentially affect T cell function depending on the animal species in which they are applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Jurka
- Department of Small Animal Diseases with Clinic, Laboratory of Small Animal Reproduction, Warsaw, Poland.
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9
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Koren L, Whiteside D, Fahlman S, Ruckstuhl K, Kutz S, Checkley S, Dumond M, Wynne-Edwards K. Cortisol and corticosterone independence in cortisol-dominant wildlife. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2012; 177:113-9. [PMID: 22449618 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2012.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2011] [Revised: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Species have traditionally been defined as cortisol-dominant or corticosterone-dominant, depending on the glucocorticoid that is reported. To assess the degree of covariance versus independence between cortisol and corticosterone, 245 serum samples belonging to 219 individuals from 18 cortisol-dominant, non-domesticated species (6 mammalian orders) were compared by mass spectrometry. In these samples, which were elevated above baseline, concentration ranges were overlapping for cortisol and corticosterone although cortisol was dominant in every sample except one of 17 bighorn sheep with a corticosterone-biased cortisol-to-corticosterone ratio of 0.17. As expected, cortisol and corticosterone were strongly associated among species (r(2)=0.8; species with high absolute cortisol tend to have high absolute corticosterone concentrations), with wide variation in the species-average cortisol-to-corticosterone ratio (range 7.5-49) and an even wider ratio range across individuals (0.2-341). However, only 9 out of 13 species with >7 individuals showed a positive association between cortisol and corticosterone among individuals, and repeated measures of the cortisol-to-corticosterone ratio within individuals were weakly associated (CV range 3-136%). We conclude that corticosterone, although at lower concentrations, has the potential to signal independently of cortisol, and should be included in integrated endocrine models of stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Koren
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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10
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Rouiller Y, Périlleux A, Marsaut M, Stettler M, Vesin MN, Broly H. Effect of hydrocortisone on the production and glycosylation of an Fc-fusion protein in CHO cell cultures. Biotechnol Prog 2012; 28:803-13. [PMID: 22535835 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are known to modulate various cellular functions such as cell proliferation, metabolism, glycosylation, and secretion of many proteins. We tested the effect of hydrocortisone (HC) on cell growth, viability, metabolism, protein production, and glycosylation of an Fc-protein expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture. HC extended cell viability but impaired cell growth. The inhibitory effect on cell growth was dose-dependent and decreased when the glucocorticoid addition was delayed. When HC was added after 2 or 3 days of culture, an increase in glutamate consumption was observed, which was reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone (Mif). Titer and specific productivity increased in the presence of HC. The increase in titer was only slightly reversed by Mif. On the other hand, Mif by itself induced an increase in titer to a level comparable to or higher than HC. Protein glycosylation was altered by the glucocorticoid in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with a shift to more acidic bands, which correlated with an increase in sialic acid moieties. This increase, which was not linked to a decrease in extracellular sialidase activity in HC-treated cultures, was reversed by Mif. Predictive models based on design of experiments enabled the definition of optimal conditions for process performance in terms of viability and titer and for the quality of the Fc-fusion protein in terms of glycosylation. The data obtained suggest a use of glucocorticoids for commercial production of Fc-fusion proteins expressed in CHO cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolande Rouiller
- Merck Serono SA, Corsier-sur-Vevey, Biotech Process Sciences, ZI B, CH-1809 Fenil-sur-Corsier, Switzerland.
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11
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Alvarez LD, Sonego JM, Veleiro AS, Burton G. Microwave assisted preparation of C1-C11 oxygen-bridged pregnanes. Steroids 2011; 76:1458-64. [PMID: 21846475 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2011.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Revised: 07/24/2011] [Accepted: 07/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
1,11-Epoxysteroids may be obtained by an intramolecular remote functionalization using Suarez reagent (diacetoxyiodobenzene/I(2)) and irradiation with visible light. We have found that photolysis with visible light may be advantageously replaced by microwave irradiation to prepare 1,11-oxygen bridges resulting in higher yields and shorter reaction times especially in the case of sensitive substrates. Both methodologies were compared on a set of representative 11-α-hydroxypregnanes (3, 8, 10 and 11).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lautaro D Alvarez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR, CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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12
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Henckens MJAG, van Wingen GA, Joëls M, Fernández G. Time-dependent corticosteroid modulation of prefrontal working memory processing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:5801-6. [PMID: 21436038 PMCID: PMC3078384 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1019128108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticosteroids are potent modulators of human higher cognitive function. They are released in response to stress, and are thought to be involved in the modulation of cognitive function by inducing distinct rapid nongenomic, and slow genomic changes, affecting neural plasticity throughout the brain. However, their exact effects on the neural correlates of higher-order cognitive function as performed by the prefrontal cortex at the human brain system level remain to be elucidated. Here, we targeted these time-dependent effects of corticosteroids on prefrontal cortex processing in humans using a working memory (WM) paradigm during functional MRI scanning. Implementing a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 72 young, healthy men received 10 mg hydrocortisone either 30 min (rapid corticosteroid effects) or 240 min (slow corticosteroid effects), or placebo before a numerical n-back task with differential load (0- to 3-back). Corticosteroids' slow effects appeared to improve working memory performance and increased neuronal activity during WM performance in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex depending on WM load, whereas no effects of corticosteroids' rapid actions were observed. Thereby, the slow actions of corticosteroids seem to facilitate adequate higher-order cognitive functioning, which may support recovery in the aftermath of stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes J A G Henckens
- Department of Cognitive Neurology and Memory, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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13
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Misico RI, Nicotra VE, Oberti JC, Barboza G, Gil RR, Burton G. Withanolides and related steroids. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2011; 94:127-229. [PMID: 21833839 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-0748-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosana I Misico
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Buenos Aires, C1428EGA, Argentina.
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14
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Veleiro A, Alvarez L, Eduardo S, Burton G. Structure of the Glucocorticoid Receptor, a Flexible Protein That Can Adapt to Different Ligands. ChemMedChem 2010; 5:649-59. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201000014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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15
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Xiao D, Huang X, Yang S, Zhang L. Direct chronic effect of steroid hormones in attenuating uterine arterial myogenic tone: role of protein kinase c/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Hypertension 2009; 54:352-8. [PMID: 19528364 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.109.130781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is associated with a significant decrease in uterine vascular tone and an increase in uterine blood flow. The present study tested the hypothesis that estrogen and progesterone differentially regulate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways in vascular smooth muscle, resulting in a decrease in uterine vascular myogenic tone in pregnancy. Uterine arteries were isolated from nonpregnant and near-term pregnant sheep. Chronic treatment (48 hours) of nonpregnant uterine arteries with 17beta-estradiol and progesterone caused a significant decrease in PKC-mediated contractions and pressure-induced myogenic tone. In accordance, treatment of near-term pregnant uterine arteries for 48 hours with ICI 182780 and RU 486 significantly increased PKC-induced contractions and myogenic tone. In contrast, acute treatment for 30 minutes had no effect on uterine artery contractility. An ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD098059, restored the chronic effect of steroids on PKC-mediated contractions in nonpregnant sheep. ERK1/2 protein and mRNA levels were greater in near-term pregnant as compared with nonpregnant uterine arteries. 17beta-Estradiol and progesterone increased ERK1/2 protein in nonpregnant sheep. In agreement, ICI 182780 and RU 486 caused significant decreases in ERK1/2 protein in near-term pregnant sheep. Western blot showed 6 PKC isozymes, alpha, beta(I), beta(II), delta, epsilon, and zeta, in the uterine arteries. 17beta-Estradiol and progesterone decreased the particulate:cytosolic ratios of PKCalpha, epsilon, and zeta, respectively, in nonpregnant sheep. ICI 182780 and RU 486 increased the ratios in near-term pregnant sheep. The results indicate a direct chronic effect of the steroid hormones in the upregulation of ERK1/2 expression and downregulation of the PKC signaling pathway, resulting in attenuated myogenic tone of the uterine artery in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daliao Xiao
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350,USA
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