Selective non-steroidal inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase type 1

The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha R) catalyses the reduction of testosterone (T) into the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The abnormal production of DHT is associated to pathologies of the main target organs of this hormone: the prostate and the skin. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, acne, androgenetic alopecia in men, and hirsutism in women appear related to the DHT production. Two isozymes of 5 alpha-reductase have been cloned, expressed and characterized (5 alpha R-1 and 5 alpha R-2). They share a poor homology, have different chromosomal localization, enzyme kinetic parameters, and tissue expression patterns. Since 5 alpha R-1 and 5 alpha R-2 are differently distributed in the androgen target organs, a different involvement of the two isozymes in the pathogenesis of prostate and skin disorders can be hypothesized. High interest has been paid to the synthesis of inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase for the treatment of DHT related pathologies, and the selective inhibition of any single isozyme represents a great challenge for medical and pharmaceutical research in order to have more specific drugs. At present, no 5 alpha R-1 inhibitor is marketed for the treatment of 5 alpha R-1 related pathologies but pharmaceutical research is very active in this field. This paper will review the major classes of 5 alpha R inhibitors focusing in particular on non-steroidal inhibitors and on structural features that enhance the selectivity versus the type 1 isozyme. Biological tests to assess the inhibitory activity towards the two 5 alpha R isozymes will be also discussed.     

Simple bi- and tricyclic inhibitors of human steroid 5alpha-reductase

A number of tricyclic thiolactams, bicyclic lactams, and bicyclic thiolactams have been prepared and evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of types 1 and 2 steroid 5alpha-reductase. The tricycles with an 8-chloro substituent in the C-ring are nM (IC50) inhibitors of type 1 steroid 5alpha-reductase (SR). In all the cases studied, lactams are more potent than the corresponding thiolactams. Activity against type 2 SR is greatly enhanced by a styryl (or azo) substituent on the aryl ring of the tri- and bicycles and also a related tricyclic aryl acid.     

5-Phenyl substituted 1-methyl-2-pyridones and 4'-substituted biphenyl-4-carboxylic acids. synthesis and evaluation as inhibitors of steroid-5alpha-reductase type 1 and 2.

The synthesis of a series of 5-phenyl substituted 1-methyl-2-pyridones (I) and 4'-substituted biphenyl-4-carboxylic acids (II) as novel A-C ring steroidomimetic inhibitors of 5alpha-reductase (5alphaR) is described. Compounds 1-4 (I) were synthesized by palladium catalyzed cross coupling (Ishikura) reaction between diethyl(3-pyridyl)borane and aryl halides (1b-4b) followed by alpha-oxidation with sodium ferrocyanate of the 1-methyl-pyridinium salt. Inhibitors II (5-18) were obtained either by two successive Friedel-Crafts acylations from biphenyl (5a-10a) followed by saponification to yield the corresponding carboxylic acids (5-10) or by Suzuki cross coupling reaction to give the 4'-substituted biphenyl-4-carbaldehydes 11a-18a. The latter compounds were subjected to a Lindgren oxidation to yield compounds 11-18. The compounds were tested for inhibitory activity toward human and rat 5alphaR1 and 2. The test compounds inhibited 5alphaR, showing a broad range of inhibitory potencies. The best compound in series I was the N-(dicyclohexyl)-4-(1,2-dihydro-1-methyl-2-oxopyrid-5-yl)benzamide 4 exhibiting an IC(50) value for the human type 2 enzyme of 10 microM. In series II, the most active compound toward human type 2 isozyme was the 4'-(dicyclohexyl)acetyl-4-biphenyl carboxylic acid (10; IC(50)=220nM). Both series showed only marginal activity toward the human type 1 isozyme. In conclusion, the biphenyl carboxylic acids (II) are more appropriate for 5alphaR inhibition than the 5-phenyl-1-methyl-2-pyridones (I). Especially the 4'-carbonyl compounds 5-10 represent new lead structures for the development of novel human type 2 inhibitors.     

3,3-diphenylpentane skeleton as a steroid skeleton substitute: novel inhibitors of human 5alpha-reductase 1

We designed and synthesized novel type 1 5alpha-reductase inhibitors by using 3,3-diphenylpentane skeleton as a substitute for the usual steroid skeleton. 4-(3-(4-(N-Methylacetamido)phenyl)pentan-3-yl)phenyl dibenzylcarbamate (11k) is a competitive 5alpha-reductase inhibitor with the IC(50) value of 0.84 microM.     

The mechanism of rat epididymal 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase

Epididymal nuclear 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase catalyses the bisubstrate reaction between testosterone and NADPH to produce 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and NADP+. Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that the 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase reaction proceeds through the direct transfer of protons from NADPH to testosterone, and that while the product DHT does not affect 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity, NADP+ is a potent inhibitor of this enzyme. In the present studies we have investigated the mechanism of 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase with respect to the binding of the substrates, testosterone and NADPH. Kinetic analyses revealed that testosterone does not alter the Kmapp for NADPH, and that NADPH does not alter the Kmapp for testosterone. These findings excluded the possibility that the mechanism of 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase is of the ping-pong variety, and that the sequential addition of both substrates is required before any products are released. The lack of change in Kmapp, observed for either substrate, further suggests that both testosterone and NADPH are able to bind to the free enzyme, negating the possibility that substrate addition occurs in an ordered manner. Indeed the kinetic profiles are entirely consistent with the mechanism of 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase being a rapid equilibrium random sequential process in which the binding of the first substrate has no affect on the binding of the second. Mean values for the dissociation constants, Ktestosterone and KNADPH, were 200 nmol/l and 50 nmol/l, respectively. These findings, coupled with those from earlier studies, suggest that the mechanism of epididymal nuclear 4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase is a rapid equilibrium random bireactant process, with the possible dead-end complex: testosterone-4-ene steroid 5 alpha-reductase-NADP+.     

Aromatic esters of progesterone as 5alpha-reductase and prostate growth inhibitors

The aim of this study was to determine the biological activity of 4 steroidal derivatives (9a, 9b and 10a, 10b) prepared from the commercially available 17alpha acetoxyprogesterone, where 9a, 9b, have the Delta(4)-3-oxo structure and 10a and 10b an epoxy group at C-4 and C-5. These steroids were tested as inhibitors of 5alpha-reductase enzyme, which is present in androgen-dependent tissues and converts testosterone to its more active reduced metabolite dihydrotestosterone. The pharmacological effect of these steroids was demonstrated by the significant decrease of the weight of the prostate gland of gonadectomized hamsters treated with testosterone plus finasteride or with steroids 10a and 10b. For the studies in vitro the IC(50) values were determined by measuring the steroid concentration that inhibits 50% of the activity of-5alpha-reductase. In this study we also determined the capacity of these steroids to bind to the androgen receptor present in the rat prostate cytosol. The results from this work indicated that compounds 9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b inhibited the 5alpha reductase activity with IC(50) values of 360, 370, 13 and 4.9 nM respectively. However these steroids did not bind to the androgen receptors since none competed with labeled mibolerone. Steroid 10b, an epoxy steroidal derivative containing bromine atom in the ester moiety, was the most active inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase enzyme, present in human prostate homogenates with an IC(50) value of 4.9 nM and also showed in vivo pharmacological activity since it decreased the weight of the prostate from hamsters treated with testosterone in a similar way as finasteride.     

4-Azasteroidal 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors without affinity for the androgen receptor

In efforts to develop potent 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors without affinity for the androgen receptor, synthetic 3-oxo-5 alpha-steroids were tested for their ability to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase, using [14C]testosterone as the substrate, and for their ability to inhibit the binding of [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone to the androgen receptor of rat prostate cytosol. 2',3' alpha-Tetrahydrofuran-2'-spiro-17-(5 alpha-androstan-3-one) is not an inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase and has a high affinity for the androgen receptor; substitution of the -CH2- at the 4-position with N-H resulted in a good inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase. The 4-N-CH3 derivative is even more active, whereas the N-CH2-CH3 derivative is inactive. These 4-aza derivatives have much lower affinity for the androgen receptor than the parent compound. The 4-N-H derivatives of several 3-oxo-5 alpha-steroids were found to be 20-100% as potent as their corresponding 4-N-CH3 analogs as inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase, whereas their androgen receptor affinities were at least 40-fold lower than their 4-N-CH3 analogs. Their 5 beta-isomers did not inhibit either 5 alpha-reductase or the androgen receptor binding of [3H]5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Two of these 4-N-H steroids, 17 beta-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-aza-5 alpha-androstan-3-one and 17 beta-N, N-diisopropylcarbamoyl-4-aza-5 alpha-androstan-3-one, are potent 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors with Ki values equal to 29.2 +/- 1.7 and 12.6 +/- 0.8 nM, respectively, but have little affinity for the androgen receptor. The inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase by both compounds is competitive with testosterone. When [3H]testosterone was incubated with minced rat prostate in the presence of either of these two 4-azasteroids, the nuclear concentration of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone decreased and that of testosterone increased. The total nuclear uptake of testosterone plus 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone was not significantly affected. These 4-azasteroids should be useful for investigating the importance of 5 alpha-reductase in androgen action in vivo.     

Analysis of the steroid binding domain of rat steroid 5alpha-reductase (isozyme-1): the steroid D-ring binding domain of 5alpha-reductase.

We have previously shown that the photoactive 4-azasteroid, [1,2 3H]N-4(benzylbenzoyl)-3-oxo-4-aza-4-methyl-5alpha-androst an-17beta-carboxamide is an effective probe of rat steroid 5alpha-reductase (isozyme-1) (5alphaR-1). In the current investigation, PEG-fractionated (6.5%) detergent-solubilized preparations containing 5alphaR-1 activity were ultraviolet (UV)-photolyzed with [3H]-4MABP and subsequently purified by 8.75% preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The fractions corresponding to the radioactive peak following the dye front were analyzed by 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and showed the presence of a single, labeled, 26 KDa protein band, the apparent molecular weight of 5alphaR-1. TCA precipitation of the labeled fractions, followed by long-term digestion of the TCA pellet with chymotrypsin and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, indicated that the majority of the radioactivity eluted with a peak retention time of 55-56 min. Rechromatography of this fraction using a modified gradient (elution 54-55 min), followed by sequence analysis, yielded a single N-terminal tetrapeptide with the sequence, -L-E-G-F-, corresponding to residues 15-18 of the 5alphaR-1 sequence. Site-directed mutagenesis studies indicated that mutant F18L showed an approximately 12-fold increase in the Km for testosterone, whereas the Km for reduced nicotinomide adenine dinucleotide phosphate remained virtually unaltered.     

A novel class of inhibitors for steroid 5alpha-reductase: synthesis and evaluation of umbelliferone derivatives

A series of umbelliferone derivatives was prepared and their 5alpha-reductase type 1 inhibitory activities were evaluated in cell culture systems. Our studies have identified a new series of potent 5alpha-reductase type 1 inhibitors and provided the basis for further development for the treatment of human endocrine disorders associated with overproduction of DHT by 5alpha-reductase type 1. The preliminary structure-activity relationship was described to elucidate the essential structural requirements.     

Structure-activity relationship of 5'-substituted fluoro-neplanocin a analogues as potent inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase

Four 5'-substituted fluoro-neplanocin A analogues la-d were designed and synthesized, and the inhibitory activity against SAH was in the following order: NH2 > SH > F, N3, indicating a hydrogen bonding donor is essential for inhibitory activity.     

Synthesis of 8-chloro-benzo[c]quinolizin-3-ones as potent and selective inhibitors of human steroid 5alpha-reductase 1

The synthesis of a series of differently substituted 8-chloro-benzo[c]quinolizin-3-ones, as potent and selective human steroid 5alpha-reductase type 1 inhibitors, has been accomplished by a four-step procedure based on the TiCl4-promoted tandem Mannich-Michael cyclization of 2-silyloxy-1,3-butadienes with N-t-Boc iminium ions from quinolin-2-ones. The presence on the benzo[c]quinolizinone nucleus of a methyl group and a double bond at positions 6 and 4-4a, respectively, as in compound 1d, gave rise to one of the most potent non-steroidal 5alphaR-1 inhibitors reported so far (IC50 = 14 nM).     

Solubilization of nuclear steroid 5 alpha-reductase from rat ventral prostate

delta 4-Steroid-5 alpha-reductase (3-oxo-5 alpha-steroid:NADP+ delta 4-oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.1.22), is a membrane-bound enzyme. In the ventral prostate of the rat, its activity is found within the nuclear envelope. Solubilization of this enzyme can only be achieved in the presence of detergents. We studied the inhibitory effect of various detergents on 5 alpha-reductase activity as a function of detergent concentration, of pH, of incubation time, of salt concentration and of additives to the buffer system. Four detergents (Lubrol WX, CHAPS, L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine and octyl D-glucopyranoside) were selected for subsequent solubilization studies. The overall recovery of solubilized enzyme activity was about 30% when compared to 100% of 5 alpha-reductase activity found in freshly prepared nuclei. Up to 20-30% of the nuclear proteins were extracted during the solubilization procedure. Among the various treatments tested, a concentration of 3 mg/ml L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine per 10 mg/ml of nuclear protein in the presence of 5 mM MgCl2, 0.1 M KCl, 0.1 M sodium citrate and 5 mM NADPH yielded the maximal enzymic activity of 56%, 15% of the nuclear proteins being solubilized in an active and stable form. The activity in these extracts could be kept stable for 2 days at 4 degrees C with a recovery of 75% of enzymic activity. A 3-fold increase of specific 5 alpha-reductase activity was obtained during solubilization under optimal conditions.     

Photoaffinity labelling of nuclear steroid 5 alpha-reductase of rat ventral prostate

In order to get more information on the molecular structure of the rat prostatic 5 alpha-reductase (3-oxo-5 alpha-steroid: NADP+ 4-ene-oxidoreductase, EC 1.3:1.22) a systematic photoaffinity labelling study has been performed. To irreversibly freeze the status quo of interaction, either testosterone, the physiological ligand, or diazo-MAPD (21-diazo-4-methyl-4-aza-5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione), a specific 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, was irradiated with isolated nuclei or with purified nuclear membranes or with solubilized nuclear membrane proteins and checked for optimal labelling conditions. The principal substances covalently labelled were phospholipids and at a minor ratio proteins. Analysis by SDS-PAGE and autoradiofluorography revealed two labelled polypeptides with molecular weights of 20 kDa and 26 kDa. The following evidence indicates that these polypeptides might be derived from the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase: both proteins are labelled only when specific ligands for 5 alpha-reductase are used; binding can be reduced by the addition of an excess of unlabelled ligand; enzyme activity is irreversibly suppressed when irradiated in the presence of these ligands; only subcellular fractions containing 5 alpha-reductase reveal the labelled proteins; in all 5 alpha-reductase containing preparations with increasing specific activity, independent of the polypeptide pattern, the same proteins are labelled.     

New progesterone derivatives as inhibitors of 5alpha-reductase enzyme and prostate cancer cell growth

In this study we report the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation, in vivo as well as in vitro, of four new progesterone derivatives 4-7. The evaluation in vivo was carried out on gonadectomized male hamsters that were injected subcutaneously daily with 1 mg/Kg of testosterone (T) and/or 1 mg/Kg of finasteride, or with 2 mg/Kg of the novel compounds. It was observed that when testosterone (T) and finasteride or compound 4 were injected together, the weight of the prostate decreased significantly as compared to that oftestosterone-treated animals. Compounds 5-7 did not show any in vivo activity. The 5alpha-reductase inhibitory activity of the novel compounds was determined in vitro using human prostate homogenates; the steroids 4-7 inhibited the 5alpha-reductase activity with IC50 values lower than that for the reference compound finasteride. 3. The effect of compounds 4-7 on the growth of lymphocytes and prostate cancer culture cells line was that steroid 4 inhibited the growth of both cells lines at a concentration of 50 microM and showed a cytotoxic effect whereas compounds 5-7 showed a much lower inhibition. Nevertheless steroids 4-7 didn't exhibit any toxic effects in vivo since the animals remained alive during the six days of treatment.     

N-substituted 4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)benzamides. Synthesis and evaluation as inhibitors of steroid-5alpha-reductase type 1 and 2

In search of non-steroidal inhibitors of human prostatic 5alpha-reductase, we recently described N-substituted 4'-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acids. Here, we report the optimisation of this series of compounds by increasing the conformational flexibility using an ether linker between the steroidal A-C ring mimetics. Ten new compounds were synthesised and tested against human and rat isozymes 1 and 2. The substances showed a broad range of activity from 36% inhibition at a concentration of 10 microM to an IC50 value of 60 nM for compounds 22 and 29 respectively. The most potent compound 26 showed an IC50 value improved by a factor of 5 from 1.9 microM to 0.38 microM in comparison with the parent biphenyl compound 15.     

Synthesis of a steroidal A ring aromatic sulfonic acid as an inhibitor of steroid 5 alpha-reductase

The synthesis of 17 beta-(N,N-diisopropylcarbamoyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-sulfonic acid (3) has been accomplished. Sulfonate 3 was designed as a novel inhibitor of human steroid 5 alpha-reductase based on considerations of enzyme mechanisms, and exhibits an inhibition constant in the low nanomolar range.     

Bicyclic pyridones as potent, efficacious and orally bioavailable thrombin inhibitors

A new class of conformationally constrained thrombin inhibitors is described. These compounds contain a unique bicyclic pyridone scaffold which serves as a P3P2 dipeptide surrogate. The synthesis and antithrombotic activity of these inhibitors is reported.     

Photoaffinity labeling of steroid 5 alpha-reductase of rat liver and prostate microsomes

21-Diazo-4-methyl-4-aza-5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione (Diazo-MAPD) inhibits steroid 5 alpha-reductase in liver microsomes of female rats with a Ki value of 8.7 +/- 1.7 nM, and the inhibition is competitive with testosterone. It also inhibits the binding of a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, [3H] 17 beta-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-methyl-4-aza-5 alpha-androstan-3-one ([3H]4-MA), to the enzyme in liver microsomes. The inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase activity and of inhibitor binding activity by diazo-MAPD becomes irreversible upon UV irradiation. [1,2-3H]Diazo-MAPD binds to a single high affinity site (Kd 8 nM, 125 pmol binding sites/mg of protein) in liver microsomes of female rats, and this binding requires NADPH. Without UV irradiation, this binding is reversible, and it becomes irreversible upon UV irradiation. Both the initial reversible binding and the subsequent irreversible conjugation after UV irradiation are inhibited by inhibitors (diazo-MAPD and 4-MA) and substrates (progesterone and testosterone) of 5 alpha-reductase, but they are not inhibited by 5 alpha-reduced steroids (5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol). NADPH stimulates the binding of [3H] diazo-MAPD to microsomes of male rat liver and prostate. UV irradiation also induces conjugation of [3H] diazo-MAPD to these microsomes. Photoaffinity labeled liver microsomes of female rats were solubilized and fractionated by high performance gel filtration. The radioactive conjugate eluted in one major peak at Mr 50,000.     

Synthesis of N-substituted piperidine-4-(benzylidene-4-carboxylic acids) and evaluation as inhibitors of steroid-5alpha-reductase type 1 and 2

The synthesis of N-substituted piperidine-4-(benzylidene-4-carboxylic acids) is described [benzoyl (1), benzyl (2), adamantanoyl (3), cyclohexanoyl (4), cyclohexylacetyl (5), diphenylacetyl (6), dicyclohexylacetyl (7), 2-propylpentanoyl (8), diphenylcarbamoyl (9), trimethylacetyl (10), 3,3-dimethylacryloyl (11), dicyclohexylacetyl derivative of the benzyl compound (12)]. Compounds were tested for inhibitory activity toward 5alpha-reductase isozymes 1 and 2 in human and rat. The test compounds inhibited 5alpha-reductase, showing a broad range of inhibitory potencies. In rat, compounds 6 (IC50 = 3.44 and 0.37 microM for type 1 and 2, respectively) and 9 (IC50=0.54 and 0.69 microM for type 1 and 2, respectively) displayed the best inhibition toward both isozymes. Compound 7 showed a strong inhibition toward type 2 human and rat enzyme (IC50 = 60 and 80 nM) but only a moderate activity versus type 1 enzyme (IC50 approximately 10 microM for rat and human enzyme). In vivo, selected compounds reduced prostate weights in castrated testosterone treated rats.