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Watts HE, Cornelius JM. Toward understanding the endocrine regulation of diverse facultative migration strategies. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105465. [PMID: 38061233 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Migration is an important event in the annual cycle of many animals that facilitates the use of resources that vary across space and time. It can occur with regular and predictable timing, as in obligate migration, or with much greater flexibility, as in facultative migration. Most research aimed at understanding the endocrine mechanisms regulating the transition to a migratory stage has focused on obligate migration, whereas less is known about facultative forms of migration. One challenge for research into the endocrine regulation of facultative migration is that facultative migrations encompass a diverse array of migratory movements. Here, we present a framework to describe and conceptualize variation in facultative migrations that focuses on conditions at departure. Within the context of this framework, we review potential endocrine mechanisms involved in the initiation of facultative migrations in vertebrates. We first focus on glucocorticoids, which have been the subject of most research on the topic. We then examine other potential hormones and neurohormones that have received less attention, but are exciting candidates to consider. We conclude by highlighting areas where future research is particularly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Watts
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - Jamie M Cornelius
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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2
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Plusquin M, Wang C, Cosemans C, Roels HA, Vangeneugden M, Lapauw B, Fiers T, T'Sjoen G, Nawrot TS. The association between newborn cord blood steroids and ambient prenatal exposure to air pollution: findings from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort. Environ Health 2023; 22:63. [PMID: 37674219 PMCID: PMC10483875 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01010-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of whether prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution disrupts steroidogenesis is currently lacking. We investigated the association between prenatal ambient air pollution and highly accurate measurements of cord blood steroid hormones from the androgenic pathway.This study included 397 newborns born between the years 2010 and 2015 from the ENVIRONAGE cohort in Belgium of whom six cord blood steroid levels were measured: 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone, androstenedione, and testosterone. Maternal ambient exposure to PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm), NO2, and black carbon (BC) were estimated daily during the entire pregnancy using a high-resolution spatiotemporal model. The associations between the cord blood steroids and the air pollutants were tested and estimated by first fitting linear regression models and followed by fitting weekly prenatal exposures to distributed lag models (DLM). These analyses accounted for possible confounders, coexposures, and an interaction effect between sex and the exposure. We examined mixture effects and critical exposure windows of PM2.5, NO2 and BC on cord blood steroids via the Bayesian kernel machine regression distributed lag model (BKMR-DLM).An interquartile range (IQR) increment of 7.96 µg/m3 in PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy trimester 3 was associated with an increase of 23.01% (99% confidence interval: 3.26-46.54%) in cord blood levels of 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, and an IQR increment of 0.58 µg/m³ in BC exposure during trimester 1 was associated with a decrease of 11.00% (99% CI: -19.86 to -0.012%) in cord blood levels of androstenedione. For these two models, the DLM statistics identified sensitive gestational time windows for cord blood steroids and ambient air pollution exposures, in particular for 17α-hydroxypregnenolone and PM2.5 exposure during trimester 3 (weeks 28-36) and for androsterone and BC exposure during early pregnancy (weeks 2-13) as well as during mid-pregnancy (weeks 18-26). We identified interaction effects between pollutants, which has been suggested especially for NO2.Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants during pregnancy interferes with steroid levels in cord blood. Further studies should investigate potential early-life action mechanisms and possible later-in-life adverse effects of hormonal disturbances due to air pollution exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Congrong Wang
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Harry A Roels
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Bruno Lapauw
- Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Fiers
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy T'Sjoen
- Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, UHasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
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Javůrková VG, Mikšík I. New insights into the relationships between egg maternal components: the interplays between albumen steroid hormones, proteins and eggshell protoporphyrin. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 279:111401. [PMID: 36781044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the egg yolk maternal components, which are a mixture of substances that can affect the developing embryo, do not act separately but are interconnected and co-adapted. Surprisingly, no study to date has focused on the associations between maternally derived albumen steroids and albumen and eggshell compounds with pleiotropic effects. Eggshell pigment protoporphyrin (PROTO IX) should provide primary antimicrobial protection for eggs, but as a proven pro-oxidant, it may compromise female fitness. Abundant albumen proteins ovotransferrin (OVOTR) and lysozyme (LSM) have been shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunoregulatory and growth-regulatory roles. To investigate associations between albumen steroids and OVOTR, LSM and eggshell cuticle PROTO IX, we used chicken eggs with differently pigmented eggshells. We found that albumen steroid hormones were strongly intercorrelated. In addition, we revealed that albumen LSM and testosterone (T) were positively associated, while a negative association was found between albumen LSM and pregnenolone (P5). Eggshell cuticle PROTO IX was negatively associated with the concentration of albumen 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OHP5). Finally, of all the hormones tested, only the concentration of albumen 17-OHP5 correlated negatively with egg volume and varied with eggshell colour and chicken breed. Although experimental evidence for the effect of maternal albumen steroids on avian developing embryo is still scarce, our study is the first to highlight co-variation and potential co-adjustment of maternally derived albumen steroids, proteins and eggshell cuticle pigment suggesting similar allocation mechanisms known for yolk maternal compounds with the potential to influence the avian embryo and offspring phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Gvoždíková Javůrková
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands; Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ivan Mikšík
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic
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Kolas V, Bandonil JSA, Wali N, Hsia KC, Shie JJ, Chung BC. A synthetic pregnenolone analog promotes microtubule dynamics and neural development. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:190. [PMID: 36456994 PMCID: PMC9717551 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00923-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnenolone (P5) is a neurosteroid that promotes microtubule polymerization. It also reduces stress and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, promotes memory, as well as recovery from spinal cord injury. P5 is the first substance in the steroid-synthetic pathway; it can be further metabolized into other steroids. Therefore, it is difficult to differentiate the roles of P5 versus its metabolites in the brain. To alleviate this problem, we synthesized and screened a series of non-metabolizable P5 derivatives for their ability to polymerize microtubules similar to P5. RESULTS We identified compound #43 (3-beta-pregnenolone acetate), which increased microtubule polymerization. We showed that compound #43 modified microtubule dynamics in live cells, increased neurite outgrowth and changed growth cone morphology in mouse cerebellar granule neuronal culture. Furthermore, compound #43 promoted the formation of stable microtubule tracks in zebrafish developing cerebellar axons. CONCLUSIONS We have developed compound #43, a nonmetabolized P5 analog, that recapitulates P5 functions in vivo and can be a new therapeutic candidate for the treatment of neurodevelopmental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoryia Kolas
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan ,grid.38348.340000 0004 0532 0580Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | | | - Niaz Wali
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan ,grid.19188.390000 0004 0546 0241Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan ,grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Taiwan International Graduate Program, (TIGP-CBMB) Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chiang Hsia
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Jie Shie
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bon-chu Chung
- grid.28665.3f0000 0001 2287 1366Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan ,grid.38348.340000 0004 0532 0580Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ,grid.254145.30000 0001 0083 6092Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
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Kollerov V, Shutov A, Kazantsev A, Donova M. Hydroxylation of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone by zygomycete Backusella lamprospora VKM F-944: selective production of 7α-OH-DHEA. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 106:535-548. [PMID: 34939135 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11737-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we studied the transformation of two 3β-hydroxy-5-ene-steroids-pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by Backusella lamprospora VKM F- 944. The soil-dwelling zygomycete wild-type strain has been earlier selected during the screening and previously unexplored for this purpose. The fungus fully converted pregnenolone to form a mixture of axial 7α-hydroxy-pregnenolone and 7α,11α-dihydroxy-pregnenolone, while no metabolites with β-orientation of the hydroxyl group were detected. The pathway to 7α,11α-diOH-pregnenolone seems to include 7α-hydroxylation of 11α-hydroxylated derivative. The only product from DHEA was identified as 7α-hydroxy-DHEA. The structures of steroid metabolites were confirmed by HPLC, mass-spectrometry (MS), and 1H and 13C NMR analyses. Under the optimized conditions, the yield of 7α-OH-DHEA reached 94% (w/w) or over 14 g/L in absolute terms, even at high concentration of the substrate (DHEA) (15 g/L). To our knowledge, it is the highest yield of the value-added 7α-OH-DHEA reported so far. The results contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of the wild-type fungal strains capable of effective steroid hydroxylation. They could be applied for the production of allylic steroid 7α-alcohols that are widely used in medicine. KEY POINTS: • Zygomycete Backusella lamprospora actively hydroxylates 3β-hydroxy-5-en-steroids. • Axial 7α-hydroxylation is the preferable reaction by the strain towards pregnenolone and DHEA. • The strain selectively produces 7α-OH-DHEA even at high substrate concentrations (up to 15 g/L).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vyacheslav Kollerov
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Nauki, 5, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow region, Russia.
| | - Andrei Shutov
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Nauki, 5, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow region, Russia
| | - Alexey Kazantsev
- Chemical Department, Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskiye Gori, 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina Donova
- G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Nauki, 5, 142290, Pushchino, Moscow region, Russia
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Chustecka M, Blügental N, Majewski PM, Adamska I. 24 hour patterning in gene expression of pineal neurosteroid biosynthesis in young chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus L.). Chronobiol Int 2020; 38:46-60. [PMID: 32990093 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1823404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The pineal gland, one of the three equivalent avian biological clock structures, is also the site of intensive neurosteroid synthesis (7α-hydroxypregnenolone and allopregnanolone). Pineal neurosteroid biosynthesis involves six enzymes: cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage - Cyp11a1 encoded, cytochrome P4507α - Cyp7b1, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase - Hsd3b2, 5α-reductase - Srd5a1, 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase - Akr1d1, and 5β-reductase - Srd5a3. Regulation of neurosteroid biosynthesis is not fully understood; although it is known that the E4BP4 transcription factor induces activation of biosynthetic cholesterol genes, which are the targets for SREBP (element-binding protein transcription factor). SREBP principal activity in the pineal gland is suppression and inhibition of the Period2 canonical clock gene, suggesting our hypothesis that genes encoding enzymes involved in neurosteroidogenesis are under circadian clock control and are the Clock Control Genes (CCGs). Therefore, through investigation of daily changes in Cyp11a1, Cyp7b1, Hsd3b2, Akr1d1, Srd5a1, and Srd5a3, pineal genes were tested in vivo and in vitro, in cultured pinealocytes. Experiments were carried out on pineal glands taken from 16-day-old chickens in vivo or using in vitro cultures of pinealocytes collected from 16-day-old animals. Both the birds in the in vivo experiments and the pinealocytes were kept under controlled light conditions (LD 12:12) or in constant darkness (DD). Subsequently, materials were prepared for RT-qPCR analysis. Results revealed that three of the six tested genes: Cyp11a1, Cyp7b1, and Srd5a3 demonstrated significant 24-hour variation in in vivo and in vitro. Findings of this study confirm that these genes could be under clock control and satisfy many of the requirements to be identified as CCGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Chustecka
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Blügental
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Marek Majewski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Adamska
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw , Warsaw, Poland
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Sultana N. Microbial biotransformation of bioactive and clinically useful steroids and some salient features of steroids and biotransformation. Steroids 2018; 136:76-92. [PMID: 29360535 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Steroids are perhaps one of the most widely used group of drugs in present day. Beside the established utilization as immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, progestational, diuretic, sedative, anabolic and contraceptive agents, recent applications of steroid compounds include the treatment of some forms of cancer, osteoporosis, HIV infections and treatment of declared AIDS. Steroids isolated are often available in minute amounts. So biotransformation of natural products provides a powerful means in solving supply problems in clinical trials and marketing of the drug for obtaining natural products in bulk amounts. If the structure is complex, it is often an impossible task to isolate enough of the natural products for clinical trials. The microbial biotransformation of steroids yielded several novel metabolites, exhibiting different activities. The metabolites produced from pregnenolone acetate by Cunning hamella elegans and Rhizopus stolonifer were screened against tyrosinase and cholinesterase showed significant inhibitory activities than the parent compound. Diosgenin and its transformed sarsasapogenin were screened for their acetyl cholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase inhibitory activities. Sarsasapogenin was screened for phytotoxicity, and was found to be more active than the parent compound. Diosgenin, prednisone and their derivatives were screened for their anti-leishmanial activity. All derivatives were found to be more active than the parent compound. The biotransformation of steroids have been reviewed to a little extent. This review focuses on the biotransformation and functions of selected steroids, the classification, advantages and agents of enzymatic biotransformation and examines the potential role of new enzymatically transformed steroids and their derivatives in the chemoprevention and treatment of other diseases. tyrosinase and cholinesterase inhibitory activities, severe asthma, rheumatic disorders, renal disorders and diseases of inflammatory bowel, skin, gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nighat Sultana
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Shahrah-e-Dr. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, Off University Road, Karachi 75280, Pakistan.
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Tan DX, Xu B, Zhou X, Reiter RJ. Pineal Calcification, Melatonin Production, Aging, Associated Health Consequences and Rejuvenation of the Pineal Gland. Molecules 2018; 23:E301. [PMID: 29385085 PMCID: PMC6017004 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The pineal gland is a unique organ that synthesizes melatonin as the signaling molecule of natural photoperiodic environment and as a potent neuronal protective antioxidant. An intact and functional pineal gland is necessary for preserving optimal human health. Unfortunately, this gland has the highest calcification rate among all organs and tissues of the human body. Pineal calcification jeopardizes melatonin's synthetic capacity and is associated with a variety of neuronal diseases. In the current review, we summarized the potential mechanisms of how this process may occur under pathological conditions or during aging. We hypothesized that pineal calcification is an active process and resembles in some respects of bone formation. The mesenchymal stem cells and melatonin participate in this process. Finally, we suggest that preservation of pineal health can be achieved by retarding its premature calcification or even rejuvenating the calcified gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun Xian Tan
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Xinjia Zhou
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Russel J Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
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