15 beta-hydroxysteroids (Part IV). Steroids of the human perinatal period: the synthesis of 3 alpha,15 beta,17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one and its A/B-ring configurational isomers

The evolution of methods for urinary steroid metabolomics in clinical investigations particularly in childhood

The metabolites of cortisol, and the intermediates in the pathways from cholesterol to cortisol and the adrenal sex steroids can be analysed in a single separation of steroids by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to MS to give a urinary steroid profile (USP). Steroids individually and in profile are now commonly measured in plasma by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with MS/MS. The steroid conjugates in urine can be determined after hydrolysis and derivative formation and for the first time without hydrolysis using GC-MS, GC-MS/MS and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The evolution of the technology, practicalities and clinical applications are examined in this review. The patterns and quantities of steroids changes through childhood. Information can be obtained on production rates, from which children with steroid excess and deficiency states can be recognised when presenting with obesity, adrenarche, adrenal suppression, hypertension, adrenal tumours, intersex condition and early puberty, as examples. Genetic defects in steroid production and action can be detected by abnormalities from the GC-MS of steroids in urine. New mechanisms of steroid synthesis and metabolism have been recognised through steroid profiling. GC with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) has been used for the tentative identification of unknown steroids in urine from newborn infants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Suggestions are made as to areas for future research and for future applications of steroid profiling. As routine hospital laboratories become more familiar with the problems of chromatographic and MS analysis they can consider steroid profiling in their test repertoire although with LC-MS/MS of urinary steroids this is unlikely to become a routine test because of the availability, cost and purity of the internal standards and the complexity of data interpretation. Steroid profiling with quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) after chromatography now provides the most versatile of tests of adrenal function in childhood.

Transformation of a series of saturated isomeric steroidal diols by Aspergillus tamarii KITA reveals a precise stereochemical requirement for entrance into the lactonization pathway

Four isomers of 5α-androstan-3,17-diol have been transformed by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus tamarii, an organism which has the ability to convert progesterone to testololactone in high yield through an endogenous four step enzymatic pathway. The only diol handled within the lactonization pathway was 5α-androstan-3α,17β-diol which, uniquely underwent oxidation of the 17β-alcohol to the 17-ketone prior to its Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and the subsequent production of 3α-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-17-one. This demonstrated highly specific stereochemical requirements of the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for oxidation of this specific steroidal diol to occur. In contrast, the other three diols were transformed within the hydroxylation pathway resulting in functionalization at C-11β. Only 5α-androstan-3β,17α-diol could bind to the hydroxylase in multiple binding modes undergoing monohydroxylation in 6β and 7β positions. Evidence from this study has indicated that hydroxylation of saturated steroidal lactones may occur following binding of ring-D in its open form in which an α-alcohol is generated with close spatial parity to the C-17α hydroxyl position. All metabolites were isolated by column chromatography and were identified by (1)H, (13)C NMR and DEPT analysis and further characterized using infra-red, elemental analysis and accurate mass measurement.

Anti-AIDS agents. 34. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of betulin derivatives as anti-HIV agents

Succinyl and 3'-substituted glutaryl betulin derivatives showed stronger anti-HIV activity and higher therapeutic index (TI) values than their dihydrobetulin counterparts, with ratios of 1.2:1 to 15:1 (cf. 7 and 15, 9 and 17, 10 and 18, 11 and 19, and 12 and 20). For various 3'-substituted glutaryl compounds, the order of anti-HIV effects, from strong to weak inhibition, was 3',3'-dimethyl, 3'-methyl, 3'-ethyl-3'-methyl, followed by 3',3'-tetramethylene glutaryl derivatives (10 > 9 > 11 > 12, 18 > 17 > 19 > 20). The most potent compound, 10, has two 3',3'-dimethylglutaryl groups and displays significant anti-HIV potency with an EC50 value of 0.000 66 microM and a TI of 21 515. Results for compounds (22 and 23) without a C-3 acyl group confirmed the importance of the C-3 acyl group to the anti-HIV effect. With 3',3'-tetramethylene glutaryl derivatives, triacyl 29 showed stronger inhibition than diacyl 12; in contrast, 3',3'-dimethylglutaryl compounds displayed opposite results. 3-Keto compounds (35 and 36) and 2,3-dihydro compounds (39 and 40) had EC50 values in the range of 4.3-10.0 microM, suggesting that A ring modification led to decreased potency. The reduced activity of amide (33 and 34), ester (41), and oxime (42) analogues suggested that the orientation and linkage of the C-3 acyl side chain play crucial roles in the potent anti-HIV activity. Finally, replacing the C-28 acyl group with a bulky non-carboxylic group produced a less potent compound (44). In the study of mechanism of action, our results indicated that fusion is not the primary target for the anti-HIV activity of 10. It appears to inhibit HIV replication at a late stage of the viral life cycle, i.e., after viral protein synthesis.

15 beta-Hydroxysteroids (Part VII). Steroids of the human perinatal period: the synthesis of steroid markers and their radioactive tracers

We report the synthesis of 10 novel steroids obtained from 3 beta, 15 beta-diacetoxy-17 alpha-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (1c) as intermediates in the synthesis of 15 beta-acetoxy-20,20-ethylenedioxy-17 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (6a) and its tritiated tracer 15 beta-acetoxy-20,20-ethylenedioxy-17 alpha-hydroxy-1,2,6,7-3H-pregn-4-en-3-one (6d). The one pot interconversion of intermediate (6a) to 3 beta, 15 beta, 17 alpha-trihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one (1a) and 3 alpha, 15 beta, 17 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (2a) provides a new and efficient approach to the synthesis of diagnostically important metabolites of the human neonate and a possible route in the synthesis of the tritated tracers 3 beta, 15 beta, 17 alpha-trihydroxy-1,2,7-3H-pregn-5-en-20-one (1d) and 3 alpha, 15 beta, 17 alpha-trihydroxy-1,2,6,7-3H-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (2b) for the development of new immunoassays. We also report in this investigation an alternative route in the synthesis of 15 beta, 17 alpha-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3,20-dione (7a) an intermediate in the synthesis of human 15 beta-hydroxysteroid metabolites.

Novel reduction and hydroxylation products formed by Aspergillus fumigatus from Reichstein's substance S

Fermentation of Reichstein's Substance S with Aspergillus fumigatus (AM-21) under aerobic conditions yielded 17 alpha, 21-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregn-l-ene-3.20-dione. 17 alpha,20 alpha, 21-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregn-l-en-3-one. 6 beta,17 alpha, 21-trihydroxypregn-4-en-3,20-dione. 15 beta,17 alpha,21-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione, and 15 beta, 17 alpha,20 alpha,21-tetrahydroxy-5 alpha-pregn-l-en-3-one. Each microbial metabolite was characterized by spectroscopic methods, including 13C NMR chemical shifts.