RESUMEN
The association between plasma lipids and breast cancer (BC) has been extensively explored although results are still conflicting especially regarding the relationship with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels. HDL mediates cholesterol and oxysterol removal from cells limiting sterols necessary for tumor growth, inflammation, and metastasis and this may not be reflected by measuring HDLc. We addressed recently diagnosed, treatment-naïve BC women (n = 163), classified according to molecular types of tumors and clinical stages of the disease, in comparison to control women (CTR; n = 150) regarding plasma lipids and lipoproteins, HDL functionality and composition in lipids, oxysterols, and apo A-I. HDL was isolated by plasma discontinuous density gradient ultracentrifugation. Lipids (total cholesterol, TC; triglycerides, TG; and phospholipids, PL) were determined by enzymatic assays, apo A-I by immunoturbidimetry, and oxysterols (27, 25, and 24-hydroxycholesterol), by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. HDL-mediated cell cholesterol removal was determined in macrophages previously overloaded with cholesterol and 14C-cholesterol. Lipid profile was similar between CTR and BC groups after adjustment per age. In the BC group, lower concentrations of TC (84%), TG (93%), PL (89%), and 27-hydroxicholesterol (61%) were observed in HDL, although the lipoprotein ability in removing cell cholesterol was similar to HDL from CRT. Triple-negative (TN) BC cases presented higher levels of TC, TG, apoB, and non-HDLc when compared to other molecular types. Impaired HDL functionality was observed in more advanced BC cases (stages III and IV), as cholesterol efflux was around 28% lower as compared to stages I and II. The altered lipid profile in TN cases may contribute to channeling lipids to tumor development in a hystotype with a more aggressive clinical history. Moreover, findings reinforce the dissociation between plasma levels of HDLc and HDL functionality in determining BC outcomes.
Asunto(s)
Oxiesteroles , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas , Humanos , Femenino , Apolipoproteína A-I , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Lipoproteínas , Colesterol , Triglicéridos , HDL-ColesterolRESUMEN
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, is a complex clinical condition with multifactorial origin posing a major burden to health care systems across the world. Even though the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease are still unclear, both central and peripheral inflammation has been implicated in the process. Piling evidence shows that the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is activated in AD. As dyslipidemia is a risk factor for dementia, and cholesterol can also activate the inflammasome, a possible link between lipid levels and the NLRP3 inflammasome has been proposed in Alzheimer's. It is also speculated that not only cholesterol but also its metabolites, the oxysterols, may be involved in AD pathology. In this context, mounting data suggest that NLRP3 inflammasome activity can be modulated by different peripheral nuclear receptors, including liver-X receptors, which present oxysterols as endogenous ligands. In light of this, the current review explores whether the activation of NLRP3 by nuclear receptors, mediated by oxysterols, may also be involved in AD and could serve as a potential pharmacological avenue in dementia.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer , Oxiesteroles , Humanos , Inflamasomas/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Proteína con Dominio Pirina 3 de la Familia NLR/metabolismo , Inflamación/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
Lanosterol, an oxysterol molecule, has been proposed to help maintain lens transparency by inhibiting the formation of protein aggregates. This sterol is produced by the enzyme lanosterol synthase and is part of a metabolic pathway that forms cholesterol as a final step. Abnormalities in lanosterol synthase are responsible for congenital cataracts. The αA-crystallin protein, which acts as a molecular chaperone to lanosterol synthase, has been reported to have anti-protein aggregation, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. In this work, we evaluated the correlation of lanosterol synthase and αA-crystallin in human cataractous lenses with the grade of opacity, as well as the expression of lanosterol synthase, farnesyl DPP, geranyl synthase and squalene epoxidase genes. Lanosterol synthase and αA-crystallin were overexpressed in cataractous lenses as well as farnesyl-DP synthase, squalene epoxidase, lanosterol synthase and geranyl synthase genes in cataratous lenses in comparison with normal lenses. Our data confirm that lanosterol synthase and the sterol pathway are upregulated in cataractous lenses. This argues for a functional role of the oxysterol pathway and its products as an important mediator in the pathogenesis of human cataracts.
Asunto(s)
Catarata , Cristalinas , Oxiesteroles , Humanos , Esteroles , Escualeno-Monooxigenasa , Catarata/genética , Catarata/metabolismo , Catarata/patología , Cristalinas/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features and course of liver involvement in a cohort of patients with Niemann-Pick type C disease (NP-C), a severe lysosomal storage disorder. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with genetically confirmed NP-C (NPC1, n = 31; NPC2, n = 3) and liver involvement before age 6 months were retrospectively included. Clinical, laboratory test, and imaging data were collected until the last follow-up or death; available liver biopsy specimens were studied using anti-CD68 immunostaining. RESULTS: At initial evaluation (median age, 17 days of life), all patients had hepatomegaly, 33 had splenomegaly, and 30 had neonatal cholestasis. Portal hypertension and liver failure developed in 9 and 4 patients, respectively. Liver biopsy studies, performed in 16 patients, revealed significant fibrosis in all 16 and CD68+ storage cells in 15. Serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration measured in 21 patients was elevated in 17. Plasma oxysterol concentrations were increased in the 16 patients tested. Four patients died within 6 months of life, including 3 from liver involvement. In patients who survived beyond age 6 months (median follow-up, 6.1 years), cholestasis regressed in all, and portal hypertension regressed in all but 1; 25 patients developed neurologic involvement, which was fatal in 16 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Liver involvement in NP-C consisted of transient neonatal cholestasis with hepatosplenomegaly, was associated with liver fibrosis, and was responsible for death in 9% of patients. The combination of liver anti-CD68 immunostaining, serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement, and studies of plasma biomarkers should facilitate early identification of NP-C.
Asunto(s)
Hepatopatías , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , alfa-Fetoproteínas/análisis , Colestasis/etiología , Hepatomegalia/etiología , Hipertensión Portal/etiología , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/sangre , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/complicaciones , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/inmunología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Hepatopatías/diagnóstico , Hepatopatías/etiología , Hepatopatías/inmunología , Hepatopatías/patología , Hígado/inmunología , Hígado/patología , Biopsia , Cirrosis Hepática/etiología , Biomarcadores/sangre , Oxiesteroles/sangreRESUMEN
Oxysterols are the products of cholesterol oxidation. They have a wide range of effects on several cells, organs, and systems in the body. Oxysterols also have an influence on the physiology of the immune system, from immune cell maturation and migration to innate and humoral immune responses. In this regard, oxysterols have been involved in several diseases that have an immune component, from autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases to inflammatory diseases, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Here, we review data on the participation of oxysterols, mainly 25-hydroxycholesterol and 7α,25-dihydroxycholesterol, in the immune system and related diseases. The effects of these oxysterols and main oxysterol receptors, LXR and EBI2, in cells of the immune system (B cells, T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes), and in immune-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, intestinal diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and atherosclerosis, are discussed.
Asunto(s)
Aterosclerosis , Oxiesteroles , Linfocitos B , Humanos , Macrófagos , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas GRESUMEN
Oxysterols are a family of over 25 cholesterol metabolites naturally produced by enzymatic or radical oxidation. They are involved in many physiological and pathological pathways. Although their activity has been mainly attributed to the modulation of the Liver X Receptors (LXR), it is currently accepted that oxysterols are quite promiscuous compounds, acting at several targets at the same time. The promiscuity of the oxysterols with the Estrogen Receptor α (ERα) is crucial in several pathologies such as ER+ breast cancer, inflammation and atherosclerosis. Regarding this matter, we have previously reported the synthesis, LXR activity and binding mode of a family of cholestenoic acid analogs with a modified side chain. Here we report the transcriptional activity on the ERα triggered by these compounds and details on the molecular determinants involved in their activities in order to establish structure-activity relationships to shed light over the molecular basis of the promiscuity of these compounds on ER/LXR responses. Our results show that 3ß-hydroxy-5-cholestenoic acid can interact with the ERα receptor in a way similar to 26-hydroxycholesterol and is an agonist of the receptor. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we were able to predict the ERα activity of a set of cholestenoic acid analogs with changes in the flexibility and/or steric requirements of the side chain, some of which exhibited selective activation of ERα or LXR.
Asunto(s)
Receptor alfa de Estrógeno , Oxiesteroles , Colestenos/química , Receptor alfa de Estrógeno/genética , Receptores X del Hígado/agonistas , Oxiesteroles/químicaRESUMEN
Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol produced by enzymatic activity or non-enzymatic pathways (auto-oxidation). The oxidation processes lead to the synthesis of about 60 different oxysterols. Several oxysterols have physiological, pathophysiological, and pharmacological activities. The effects of oxysterols on cell death processes, especially apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis, and oxiapoptophagy, as well as their action on cell proliferation, are reviewed here. These effects, also observed in several cancer cell lines, could potentially be useful in cancer treatment. The effects of oxysterols on cell differentiation are also described. Among them, the properties of stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells while inhibiting adipogenic differentiation may be useful in regenerative medicine.
Asunto(s)
Muerte Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Oxiesteroles/farmacología , Animales , Humanos , Oxidación-Reducción/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to differentiate into several cell types when exposed to determined substances, including oxysterols. Oxysterols are cholesterol products derived from its auto-oxidation by reactive species or from enzymatic action. They are present in the body in low quantities under physiological conditions and exhibit several physiological and pharmacological actions according to both the types of oxysterol and tissue. Some of them are cytotoxic while others have been shown to promote cell differentiation through the action on several different receptors, such as nuclear LXR receptors and Smoothened receptor ligands. Here, we review the main pathways by which oxysterols have been associated with cell differentiation and death of mesenchymal stem cells.
Asunto(s)
Células Madre Mesenquimatosas , Oxiesteroles , Diferenciación Celular , Humanos , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Oxiesteroles/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Cholesterol is an essential component of mammalian plasma membranes. Alterations in sterol metabolism or oxidation have been linked to various pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Unsaturated sterols are vulnerable to oxidation induced by singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species. This process yields reactive sterol oxidation products, including hydroperoxides, epoxides as well as aldehydes. These oxysterols, in particular those with high electrophilicity, can modify nucleophilic sites in biomolecules and affect many cellular functions. Here, we review the generation and measurement of reactive sterol oxidation products with emphasis on cholesterol hydroperoxides and aldehyde derivatives (electrophilic oxysterols) and their effects on protein modifications.
Asunto(s)
Oxiesteroles/metabolismo , Proteínas/metabolismo , Aldehídos/química , Aldehídos/metabolismo , Animales , Colesterol/análogos & derivados , Colesterol/química , Colesterol/metabolismo , Humanos , Oxiesteroles/química , Proteínas/químicaRESUMEN
Liver X Receptors (LXRs) are ligand dependent transcription factors activated by oxidized cholesterol metabolites (oxysterols) that play fundamental roles in the transcriptional control of lipid metabolism, cholesterol transport and modulation of inflammatory responses. In the last decade, LXRs have become attractive pharmacological targets for intervention in human metabolic diseases and thus, several efforts have concentrated on the development of synthetic analogues able to modulate LXR transcriptional response. In this sense, we have previously found that cholestenoic acid analogues with a modified side chain behave as LXR inverse agonists. To further investigate the structure-activity relationships and to explore how cholestenoic acid derivatives interact with the LXRs, we evaluated the LXR biological activity of new analogues containing a C24-C25 double bond. Furthermore, a microarray assay was performed to evaluate the recruitment of coregulators to recombinant LXR LBD upon ligand binding. Also, conventional and accelerated molecular dynamics simulations were applied to gain insight on the molecular determinants involved in the inverse agonism. As LXR inverse agonists emerge as very promising candidates to control LXR activity, the cholestenoic acid analogues here depicted constitute a new relevant steroidal scaffold to inhibit LXR action.
Asunto(s)
Colestenos/farmacología , Colesterol/metabolismo , Receptores X del Hígado/química , Oxiesteroles/metabolismo , Colestenos/química , Colesterol/genética , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Ligandos , Metabolismo de los Lípidos , Receptores X del Hígado/genética , Receptores X del Hígado/ultraestructura , Análisis por Micromatrices , Conformación Molecular , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Resonancia Magnética Nuclear Biomolecular , Oxiesteroles/química , Unión Proteica/efectos de los fármacos , Conformación Proteica , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
Oxysterols are 27-carbon oxidation products of cholesterol metabolism. Oxysterols possess several biological actions, including the promotion of cell death. Here, we examined the ability of several oxysterols to induce short-term death in cancerous (human breast cancer and mouse skin melanoma cells) and non-cancerous (human endothelial cells and lung fibroblasts) cell lines. We determined cell viability, Ki67 expression, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis after 24-h incubations with oxysterols. We found that different oxysterols had different effects on the studied parameters. Moreover, the effects depended on cell type and oxysterol concentration. Three cytotoxic oxysterols (7-ketocholesterol, cholestane-3ß-5α-6ß-triol, and 5α-cholestane-3ß,6ß-diol) inhibited the S phase and stimulated the G0/G1 or G2/M phases. These oxysterols promoted apoptosis, determined with Annexin V and propidium iodide assays. These results showed that different oxysterols have cytotoxic effects depending on the cell line. The findings suggest a potential pharmacological utility of cytotoxic oxysterols.
Asunto(s)
Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Oxiesteroles/farmacología , Ciclo Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Humanos , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
Cholesterol is an essential component in the structure and function of cell membranes and has been associated with the major pathological signatures of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To maintain brain cholesterol homeostasis, it is converted into 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) which can be driven through the blood-brain barrier. Several studies have already described a decrease in 24OHC and an increase of 27(S)-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC) in AD, as a reflection of disease burden, the loss of metabolically active neurons and the degree of structural atrophy. It is also well known that peripheral cholesterol is altered in AD patients. However, there are no data regarding effects of AD treatment in this cholesterol pathway. Since a study from our group indicated a significant increase in membrane phospholipid metabolism by donepezil, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short- and long-term donepezil treatment on cholesterol and metabolites 24OHC and 27OHC in plasma of AD patients and in healthy volunteers. At baseline, we found a decrease of 24OHC (p = 0.003) in AD patients. Cholesterol levels increased with donepezil treatment (p = 0.04) but no differences were observed regarding 24OHC and 27OHC. However, these results confirm and extend previous studies demonstrating disturbed cholesterol turnover in Alzheimer's disease.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Alzheimer/tratamiento farmacológico , Colesterol/sangre , Inhibidores de la Colinesterasa/uso terapéutico , Indanos/uso terapéutico , Oxiesteroles/sangre , Piperidinas/uso terapéutico , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/sangre , Inhibidores de la Colinesterasa/administración & dosificación , Donepezilo , Femenino , Humanos , Indanos/administración & dosificación , Masculino , Piperidinas/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
Oxysterols are oxidized products of cholesterol that play several roles in various pathophysiological processes, including the control of lipid metabolism, immunological processes, and cytotoxicity. Mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent cells with properties of self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into other cell types, including osteoblasts and adipocytes. Here, we review the literature regarding the effects of oxysterols on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and the main signaling pathways involved in this process.
Asunto(s)
Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/efectos de los fármacos , Oxiesteroles/farmacología , Animales , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Oxiesteroles/química , Oxiesteroles/metabolismoRESUMEN
Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors that play central roles in the transcriptional control of lipid metabolism. The ability of LXRs to integrate metabolic and inflammation signalling makes them attractive targets for intervention in human metabolic diseases. Several oxidized metabolites of cholesterol (oxysterols) are endogenous LXR ligands, that modulate their transcriptional responses. While 25R-cholestenoic acid is an agonist of the LXRs, the synthetic analogue 27-norcholestenoic acid that lacks the 25-methyl is an inverse agonist. This change in the activity profile is triggered by a disruption of a key interaction between residues His435 and Trp457 that destabilizes the H11-H12 region of the receptor and favors the binding of corepressors. The introduction of fluorine atoms on the oxysterol side chain can favor both hydrophobic interactions as well as hydrogen bonds with the fluorine atoms and may thus induce changes in the receptor that may lead to changes in the activity profile. To evaluate these effects we have synthesized two fluorinated 27-nor-steroids, analogues of 27-norcholestenoic acid, the 25,25-difluoroacid and the corresponding 26-alcohol. The key step was a Reformatsky reaction on the C-24 cholenaldehyde, with ethyl bromodifluoroacetate under high intensity ultrasound (HIU) irradiation, followed by a Barton-McCombie type deoxygenation. Activity was evaluated in a luciferase reporter assay in the human HEK293T cells co-transfected with full length human LXRß expression vector. The 25,25-difluoro-27-norcholestenoic acid was an inverse agonist and antagonist similar to its non-fluorinated analogue while its reduced derivative 25,25-difluoro-27-norcholest-5-ene-3ß,26-diol was an agonist. Molecular dynamics simulation of the ligand-receptor complexes showed that the difluoroacid disrupted the His435-Trp457 interaction although the resulting conformational changes were different from those induced by the non-fluorinated analogue. In the case of the difluoroalcohol, the fluorine atoms actively participated in the interaction with several residues in the ligand binding pocket leading to a stabilization of the active receptor conformation.
Asunto(s)
Colestenos/química , Flúor/química , Hidroxicolesteroles/química , Receptores X del Hígado/agonistas , Noresteroides/química , Oxiesteroles/química , Alcoholes/química , Benzoatos/química , Bencilaminas/química , Colesterol/química , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Enlace de Hidrógeno , Ligandos , Receptores X del Hígado/antagonistas & inhibidores , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Unión Proteica , Transducción de Señal , Distribución TisularRESUMEN
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells characterized by self-renewal and cellular differentiation capabilities. Oxysterols comprise a very heterogeneous group derived from cholesterol through enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidation. Potent effects in cell death processes, including cytoxicity and apoptosis induction, were described in several cell lines. Very little is known about the effects of oxysterols in MSCs. 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), one of the most important oxysterols, was shown to be cytotoxic to human adipose tissue-derived MSCs. Here, we describe the short-term (24h) cytotoxic effects of cholestan-3α-5ß-6α-triol, 3,5 cholestan-7-one, (3α-5ß-6α)- cholestane-3,6-diol, 7-oxocholest-5-en-3ß-yl acetate, and 5ß-6ß epoxy-cholesterol, on MSCs derived from human adipose tissue. MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue obtained from three young, healthy women. Oxysterols, with the exception of 3,5 cholestan-7-one and 7-oxocholest-5-en-3ß-yl acetate, led to a complex mode of cell death that include apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, depending on the type of oxysterol and concentration, being cholestan-3α-5ß-6α-triol the most effective. Inhibition of proliferation was also promoted by these oxysterols, but no changes in cell cycle were observed.
Asunto(s)
Tejido Adiposo/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/efectos de los fármacos , Oxiesteroles/farmacología , Actinas/metabolismo , Adulto , Apoptosis , Autofagia , Caspasa 3/metabolismo , Caspasa 7/metabolismo , Ciclo Celular , Proliferación Celular , Supervivencia Celular , Colestanos/farmacología , Femenino , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente Indirecta , Humanos , Cetocolesteroles/farmacología , Potenciales de la Membrana , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Necrosis , Oxidación-ReducciónRESUMEN
The DAF-12 receptor in nematodes and the Liver X Receptor (LXR) in mammals are structurally related transcription factors that play key roles in determining the life span of the organism. Both types of receptors are activated by oxysterols, cholesterol metabolites with oxidized side chains. Restricting the movement of the oxysterol side chain to certain orientations may have profound effects in the activity profile, however this has not been explored so far. In a first attempt to obtain analogues of natural ligands of DAF-12 and LXR with restricted side chain mobility we introduced a 16,22-oxygen bridge in 26-hydroxycholesterol, a cholestenoic acid and a dafachronic acid (5-7). Diosgenin was used as starting material, the key step to obtain the 16,22 epoxy functionality was the one pot formation and reduction of a cyclic hemiketal via the oxocarbenium ion using sodium cyanoborohydride. All new compounds were characterized by NMR and mass spectrometry and assayed as ceDAF-12 or LXR ligands in transactivation cell-based assays. The dafachronic acid analogue 7 behaved as a ceDAF-12 agonist.