Synthesis of 7alpha-hydroxy derivatives of regulatory oxysterols

Accelerated remyelination and immune modulation by the EBI2 agonist 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol analogue in the cuprizone model

Research indicates a role for EBI2 receptor in remyelination, demonstrating that its deficiency or antagonism inhibits this process. However, activation of EBI2 with its endogenous ligand, oxysterol 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol (7α,25OHC), does not enhance remyelination beyond the levels observed in spontaneously remyelinating tissue. We hypothesized that the short half-life of the natural ligand might explain this lack of beneficial effects and tested a synthetic analogue, CF3-7α,25OHC, in the cuprizone model. The data showed that extending the bioavailability of 7α,25OHC is sufficient to accelerate remyelination in vivo. Moreover, the analogue, in contrast to the endogenous ligand, upregulated brain expression of Ebi2 and the synthesis of 15 lipids in the mouse corpus callosum. Mechanistically, the increased concentration of oxysterol likely disrupted its gradient in demyelinated areas of the brain, leading to the dispersion of infiltrating EBI2-expressing immune cells rather than their accumulation in demyelinated regions. Remarkably, the analogue CF3-7α,25OHC markedly decreased the lymphocyte and monocyte counts mimicking the key mechanism of action of some of the most effective disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, the Cd4+ transcripts in the cerebellum and CD4+ cell number in the corpus callosum were reduced compared to vehicle-treated mice. These findings suggest a mechanism by which EBI2/7α,25OHC signalling modulates the immune response and accelerates remyelination in vivo.

Study on synthesis of key squalamine intermediate 7α, 24R-dihydroxy-5α-cholestan-3-one

A facile novel strategy has been developed to obtain a key intermediate of squalamine, 7α, 24R -dihydroxy-5α-cholestan-3-one, starting from methyl Δ⁵-3β-hydroxycholanate. The pure product was successfully synthesized and separated from the C-24 position epimers in good purity, d.e.% and yield.

Oxysterols direct immune cell migration via EBI2

Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2 (EBI2, also known as GPR183) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that is required for humoral immune responses; polymorphisms in the receptor have been associated with inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The natural ligand for EBI2 has been unknown. Here we describe the identification of 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol (also called 7α,25-OHC or 5-cholesten-3β,7α,25-triol) as a potent and selective agonist of EBI2. Functional activation of human EBI2 by 7α,25-OHC and closely related oxysterols was verified by monitoring second messenger readouts and saturable, high-affinity radioligand binding. Furthermore, we find that 7α,25-OHC and closely related oxysterols act as chemoattractants for immune cells expressing EBI2 by directing cell migration in vitro and in vivo. A critical enzyme required for the generation of 7α,25-OHC is cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H). Similar to EBI2 receptor knockout mice, mice deficient in CH25H fail to position activated B cells within the spleen to the outer follicle and mount a reduced plasma cell response after an immune challenge. This demonstrates that CH25H generates EBI2 biological activity in vivo and indicates that the EBI2-oxysterol signalling pathway has an important role in the adaptive immune response.

Oxysterols direct B-cell migration through EBI2

EBI2 (also called GPR183) is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor that is highly expressed in spleen and upregulated upon Epstein-Barr-virus infection. Recent studies indicated that this receptor controls follicular B-cell migration and T-cell-dependent antibody production. Oxysterols elicit profound effects on immune and inflammatory responses as well as on cholesterol metabolism. The biological effects of oxysterols have largely been credited to the activation of nuclear hormone receptors. Here we isolate oxysterols from porcine spleen extracts and show that they are endogenous ligands for EBI2. The most potent ligand and activator is 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol (OHC), with a dissociation constant of 450 pM for EBI2. In vitro, 7α,25-OHC stimulated the migration of EBI2-expressing mouse B and T cells with half-maximum effective concentration values around 500 pM, but had no effect on EBI2-deficient cells. In vivo, EBI2-deficient B cells or normal B cells desensitized by 7α,25-OHC pre-treatment showed reduced homing to follicular areas of the spleen. Blocking the synthesis of 7α,25-OHC in vivo with clotrimazole, a CYP7B1 inhibitor, reduced the content of 7α,25-OHC in the mouse spleen and promoted the migration of adoptively transferred pre-activated B cells to the T/B boundary (the boundary between the T-zone and B-zone in the spleen follicle), mimicking the phenotype of pre-activated B cells from EBI2-deficient mice. Our results show an unexpected causal link between EBI2, an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor controlling B-cell migration, and the known immunological effects of certain oxysterols, thus uncovering a previously unknown role for this class of molecules.

Optimal TBHP allylic oxidation of Delta5-steroids catalyzed by dirhodium caprolactamate

Dirhodium caprolactamate is the most efficient catalyst for the oxidation of Delta5-steroids to 7-keto-Delta5-steroids by 70% tert-butyl hydroperoxide in water (T-HYDRO). Isolated product yields range from 38 to 87%.

Synthesis and evaluation of new 6-hydroximinosteroid analogs as cytotoxic agents

Taking into account the structural requirements for cytotoxicity, several new hydroximinosteroid derivatives have been prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against A-549, H116, PSN1, and T98G cultured tumor cell lines in order to obtain further information on the potential pharmacophoric core of this type of compound. The influence of the oxygenated position in the A ring, the presence of an additional oxygenated position at C-7 and C-16, and a fluorinated position at C-5 were considered in order to study the structure-activity relationships. The results reveal the importance of oxygenated positions in the A ring (e.g., 4,5-epoxide showed an IC50 value against HCT-116 under micromolar level) for an increase in cytotoxic activity in this type of compound. Furthermore, they showed an important selectivity toward colon tumor line (HCT-116).