Marc Poirot

Exosomes are nanovesicles that have emerged as a new intercellular communication system between an intracellular compartment of a donor cell towards the periphery or an internal compartment of a recipient cell. The bioactivity of exosomes resides not only in their protein and RNA contents but also in their lipidic molecules. Exosomes display original lipids organized in a bilayer membrane and along with the lipid carriers such as fatty acid binding proteins that they contain, exosomes transport bioactive lipids. Exosomes can vectorize lipids such as eicosanoids, fatty acids, and cholesterol, and their lipid composition can be modified by in-vitro manipulation. They also contain lipid related enzymes so that they can constitute an autonomous unit of production of various bioactive lipids. Exosomes can circulate between proximal or distal cells and their fate can be regulated in part by lipidic molecules. Compared to their parental cells, exosomes are enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin and their accumulation in cells might modulate recipient cell homeostasis. Exosome release from cells appears to be a general biological process. They have been reported in all biological fluids from which they can be recovered and can be monitors of specific pathophysiological situations. Thus, the lipid content of circulating exosomes could be useful biomarkers of lipid related diseases. Since the first lipid analysis of exosomes ten years ago detailed knowledge of exosomal lipids has accumulated. The role of lipids in exosome fate and bioactivity and how they constitute an additional lipid transport system are considered in this review.

Exosomes are bioactive vesicles released from multivesicular bodies (MVB) by intact cells and participate in intercellular signaling. We investigated the presence of lipid-related proteins and bioactive lipids in RBL-2H3 exosomes. Besides a phospholipid scramblase and a fatty acid binding protein, the exosomes contained the whole set of phospholipases (A2, C, and D) together with interacting proteins such as aldolase A and Hsp 70. They also contained the phospholipase D (PLD) / phosphatidate phosphatase 1 (PAP1) pathway leading to the formation of diglycerides. RBL-2H3 exosomes also carried members of the three phospholipase A2 classes: the calcium-dependent cPLA₂-IVA, the calcium-independent iPLA₂-VIA, and the secreted sPLA₂-IIA and V. Remarkably, almost all members of the Ras GTPase superfamily were present, and incubation of exosomes with GTPγS triggered activation of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂)and PLD₂. A large panel of free fatty acids, including arachidonic acid (AA) and derivatives such as prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and 15-deoxy-Δ^12,14-prostaglandinJ₂ (15-d PGJ₂), were detected. We observed that the exosomes were internalized by resting and activated RBL cells and that they accumulated in an endosomal compartment. Endosomal concentrations were in the micromolar range for prostaglandins; i.e., concentrations able to trigger prostaglandin-dependent biological responses. Therefore exosomes are carriers of GTP-activatable phospholipases and lipid mediators from cell to cell.

Cell secretion is a general process involved in various biological responses. Exosomes are part of this process and have gained considerable scientific interest in the past five years. Several steps through investigations across the last 20 years can explain this interest. First characterized during reticulocyte maturation, they were next evidenced as a key player in the immune response and cancer immunotherapy. More recently they were reported as vectors of mRNAs, miRNAs and also lipid mediators able to act on target cells. They are the only type of vesicles released from an intracellular compartment from cells in viable conditions. They appear as a vectorized signaling system operating from inside a donor cell towards either the periphery, the cytosol, or possibly to the nucleus of target cells. Exosomes from normal cells trigger positive effects, whereas those from pathological ones, such as tumor cells or infected ones may trigger non-positive health effects. Therefore regulating the biogenesis and secretion of exosomes appear as a pharmacological challenge to intervene in various pathophysiologies. Exosome biogenesis and molecular content, interaction with target cells, utilisation as biomarkers, and functional effects in various pathophysiologies are considered in this review.

Intercellular communication has been known for decades to involve either direct contact between cells or to operate via circulating molecules, such as cytokines, growth factors, or lipid mediators. During the last decade, we have begun to appreciate the increasing importance of intercellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles released by viable cells either from plasma membrane shedding (microvesicles, also named microparticles) or from an intracellular compartment (exosomes). Exosomes and microvesicles circulate in all biological fluids and can trigger biological responses at a distance. Their effects include a large variety of biological processes, such as immune surveillance, modification of tumor microenvironment, or regulation of inflammation. Extracellular vesicles can carry a large array of active molecules, including lipid mediators, such as eicosanoids, proteins, and nucleic acids, able to modify the phenotype of receiving cells. This review will highlight the role of the various lipidic pathways involved in the biogenesis and functions of microvesicles and exosomes.

Cholesterol metabolites can promote or suppress breast cancer, raising questions about how therapies might disrupt this balance.

In preclinical studies, [R-(+)-alpha-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-4- piperidinemethanol] [formula: see text] (MDL 100,907), a putative atypical antipsychotic, was characterized in vitro as a potent and selective ligand for the serotonin2A (5-HT2A) receptor and was evaluated in vitro and in vivo as a potent 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. Furthermore, MDL 100,907's potential CNS safety profile and selectivity as a potential antipsychotic agent were evaluated and compared with benchmark compounds. MDL 100,907 demonstrated low nanomolar or subnanomolar binding in vitro at the 5-HT2A receptor and showed a > 100-fold separation from all other receptors measured. MDL 100,907 had subnanomolar potency as a 5-HT2A antagonist in vitro in reversing 5-HT-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the rat 5-HT2A receptor. In vivo, MDL 100,907 potently inhibited 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine-induced head twitches in mice or 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced head twitches in rats. In vivo functional tests in mice revealed a > 500-fold separation between doses that produced 5-HT2A antagonism and doses that produced alpha 1-adrenergic or striatal D2 antagonism. Using inhibition of D-amphetamine-stimulated locomotion in mice as a measure of potential antipsychotic efficacy, MDL 100,907 showed a superior CNS safety index relative to the reference compounds, haloperidol, clozapine, risperidone, ritanserin, and amperozide, in each of five tests for side effect potential, including measures of ataxia, general depressant effects, alpha 1-adrenergic antagonism, striatal D2 receptor antagonism, and muscle relaxation. MDL 100,907 did not antagonize apomorphine-induced stereotypes in rats, suggesting that it potentially lacks extrapyramidal side effect liability. MDL 100,907 showed selectivity as a potential antipsychotic in that it lacked consistent activity in selected rodent models of anticonvulsant, antidepressant, analgesic, or anxiolytic activity. In summary, these preclinical data indicate that MDL 100,907 is a potent and selective ligand at the 5-HT2A receptor. MDL 100,907's potent 5-HT2A antagonist activity might account for its activity in preclinical models of antipsychotic potential. Ongoing clinical evaluation with MDL 100,907 will test the hypothesis that 5-HT2A receptor antagonism is sufficient for antipsychotic activity in humans.

The microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) is a high-affinity target for the antitumor drug tamoxifen and its cognate ligands that mediate breast cancer cell differentiation and apoptosis. The AEBS, a hetero-oligomeric complex composed of 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ 8 -Δ 7 -isomerase (D8D7I) and 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ 7 -reductase (DHCR7), binds different structural classes of ligands, including ring B oxysterols. These oxysterols are inhibitors of cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH), a microsomal epoxide hydrolase that has yet to be molecularly identified. We hypothesized that the AEBS and ChEH might be related entities. We show that the substrates of ChEH, cholestan-5α,6α-epoxy-3β-ol (α-CE) and cholestan-5β,6β-epoxy-3β-ol (β-CE), and its product, cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT), are competitive ligands of tamoxifen binding to the AEBS. Conversely, we show that each AEBS ligand is an inhibitor of ChEH activity, and that there is a positive correlation between these ligands’ affinity for the AEBS and their potency to inhibit ChEH ( r 2 = 0.95; n = 39; P < 0.0001). The single expression of D8D7I or DHCR7 in COS-7 cells slightly increased ChEH activity (1.8- and 2.6-fold), whereas their coexpression fully reconstituted ChEH, suggesting that the formation of a dimer is required for ChEH activity. Similarly, the single knockdown of D8D7I or DHCR7 using siRNA partially inhibited ChEH in MCF-7 cells, whereas the knockdown of both D8D7I and DHCR7 abolished ChEH activity by 92%. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that the AEBS carries out ChEH activity and establish that ChEH is a new target for drugs of clinical interest, polyunsaturated fatty acids and ring B oxysterols.

We previously synthesized dendrogenin A and hypothesized that it could be a natural metabolite occurring in mammals. Here we explore this hypothesis and report the discovery of dendrogenin A in mammalian tissues and normal cells as an enzymatic product of the conjugation of 5,6α-epoxy-cholesterol and histamine. Dendrogenin A was not detected in cancer cell lines and was fivefold lower in human breast tumours compared with normal tissues, suggesting a deregulation of dendrogenin A metabolism during carcinogenesis. We established that dendrogenin A is a selective inhibitor of cholesterol epoxide hydrolase and it triggered tumour re-differentiation and growth control in mice and improved animal survival. The properties of dendrogenin A and its decreased level in tumours suggest a physiological function in maintaining cell integrity and differentiation. The discovery of dendrogenin A reveals a new metabolic pathway at the crossroads of cholesterol and histamine metabolism and the existence of steroidal alkaloids in mammals.

Breast cancer (BC) remains the primary cause of death from cancer among women worldwide. Cholesterol-5,6-epoxide (5,6-EC) metabolism is deregulated in BC but the molecular origin of this is unknown. Here, we have identified an oncometabolism downstream of 5,6-EC that promotes BC progression independently of estrogen receptor α expression. We show that cholesterol epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) metabolizes 5,6-EC into cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol, which is transformed into the oncometabolite 6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol (OCDO) by 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase-type-2 (11βHSD2). 11βHSD2 is known to regulate glucocorticoid metabolism by converting active cortisol into inactive cortisone. ChEH inhibition and 11βHSD2 silencing inhibited OCDO production and tumor growth. Patient BC samples showed significant increased OCDO levels and greater ChEH and 11βHSD2 protein expression compared with normal tissues. The analysis of several human BC mRNA databases indicated that 11βHSD2 and ChEH overexpression correlated with a higher risk of patient death, highlighting that the biosynthetic pathway producing OCDO is of major importance to BC pathology. OCDO stimulates BC cell growth by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the nuclear receptor of endogenous cortisol. Interestingly, high GR expression or activation correlates with poor therapeutic response or prognosis in many solid tumors, including BC. Targeting the enzymes involved in cholesterol epoxide and glucocorticoid metabolism or GR may be novel strategies to prevent and treat BC.

Abstract Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a newly discovered cholesterol metabolite with tumor suppressor properties. Here, we explored its efficacy and mechanism of cell death in melanoma and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found that DDA induced lethal autophagy in vitro and in vivo, including primary AML patient samples, independently of melanoma Braf status or AML molecular and cytogenetic classifications. DDA is a partial agonist on liver-X-receptor (LXR) increasing Nur77, Nor1, and LC3 expression leading to autolysosome formation. Moreover, DDA inhibited the cholesterol biosynthesizing enzyme 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ 8,7 -isomerase (D8D7I) leading to sterol accumulation and cooperating in autophagy induction. This mechanism of death was not observed with other LXR ligands or D8D7I inhibitors establishing DDA selectivity. The potent anti-tumor activity of DDA, its original mechanism of action and its low toxicity support its clinical evaluation. More generally, this study reveals that DDA can direct control a nuclear receptor to trigger lethal autophagy in cancers.

Delaying and even reversing ageing is a major public health challenge with a tremendous potential to postpone a plethora of diseases including cancer, metabolic syndromes and neurodegenerative disorders. A better understanding of ageing as well as the development of innovative anti-ageing strategies are therefore an increasingly important field of research. Several biological processes including inflammation, proteostasis, epigenetic, oxidative stress, stem cell exhaustion, senescence and stress adaptive response have been reported for their key role in ageing. In this review, we describe the relationships that have been established between cholesterol homeostasis, in particular at the level of oxysterols, and ageing. Initially considered as harmful pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic metabolites, oxysterols are currently emerging as an expanding family of fine regulators of various biological processes involved in ageing. Indeed, depending of their chemical structure and their concentration, oxysterols exhibit deleterious or beneficial effects on inflammation, oxidative stress and cell survival. In addition, stem cell differentiation, epigenetics, cellular senescence and proteostasis are also modulated by oxysterols. Altogether, these data support the fact that ageing is influenced by an oxysterol profile. Further studies are thus required to explore more deeply the impact of the "oxysterome" on ageing and therefore this cholesterol metabolic pathway constitutes a promising target for future anti-ageing interventions.

Tamoxifen (Tx) interacts with high affinity to the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) which is a hetero-oligomeric complex involved in cholesterol metabolism. We established that Tx and other AEBS ligands induce breast cancer cell differentiation, apoptosis and autophagy through the induction of sterol accumulation. We determined that cell death is sterol- and ROS-dependent and is prevented by the antioxidant vitamin E. Macroautophagy is characterized by the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, an increase in the expression of Beclin 1 and the stimulation of autophagic flux. We established that macroautophagy is sterol-dependent and is associated with cell survival rather than cytotoxicity, since blockage of macroautophagy sensitizes cells to AEBS ligands. These results show that the accumulation of sterols by AEBS ligands in MCF-7 cells induces both apoptosis and macroautophagy. Collectively, these data support a therapeutic potential for selective AEBS ligands in breast cancer management and reveal a mechanism that explains the induction of autophagy in MCF-7 cells by Tx and other selective estrogen receptor modulators. Moreover these data give pharmacological clues to improve the apoptotic efficacy of AEBS ligands.

Recently we have shown that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MAPK14/p38α is involved in resistance of colon cancer cells to camptothecin-related drugs. Here we further investigated the cellular mechanisms involved in such drug resistance and showed that, in HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in which TP53 was genetically ablated (HCT116-TP53KO), overexpression of constitutively active MAPK14/p38α decreases cell sensitivity to SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), inhibits cell proliferation and induces survival-autophagy. Since autophagy is known to facilitate cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, we then investigated the relationship between MAPK14/p38α, autophagy and resistance to irinotecan. We demonstrated that induction of autophagy by SN38 is dependent on MAPK14/p38α activation. Finally, we showed that inhibition of MAPK14/p38α or autophagy both sensitizes HCT116-TP53KO cells to drug therapy. Our data proved that the two effects are interrelated, since the role of autophagy in drug resistance required the MAPK14/p38α. Our results highlight the existence of a new mechanism of resistance to camptothecin-related drugs: upon SN38 induction, MAPK14/p38α is activated and triggers survival-promoting autophagy to protect tumor cells against the cytotoxic effects of the drug. Colon cancer cells could thus be sensitized to drug therapy by inhibiting either MAPK14/p38 or autophagy.

The human brain contains approximately 25% of the body’s cholesterol. The brain is separated from the circulation by the blood brain barrier. While cholesterol will not passes this barrier, oxygenated forms of cholesterol can cross the barrier. Here by measuring the difference in the oxysterol content of blood plasma in the jugular vein and in a forearm vein by mass spectrometry (MS) we were able to determine the flux of more than 20 cholesterol metabolites between brain and the circulation. We confirm that 24S-hydroxycholesterol is exported from brain at a rate of about 2–3 mg/24 h. Gas chromatography (GC)–MS data shows that the cholesterol metabolites 5α-hydroxy-6-oxocholesterol (3β,5α-dihydroxycholestan-6-one), 7β-hydroxycholesterol and 7-oxocholesterol, generally considered to be formed through reactive oxygen species, are similarly exported from brain at rates of about 0.1, 2 and 2 mg/24 h, respectively. Although not to statistical significance both GC–MS and liquid chromatography (LC)–MS methods indicate that (25R)26-hydroxycholesterol is imported to brain, while LC–MS indicates that 7α-hydroxy-3-oxocholest-4-enoic acid is exported from brain.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the principal subtype of lung cancer. Among all therapeutic options, platinum-based chemotherapy agents, especially Cisplatin, are still commonly used treatment for NSCLC patients. However, developing chemoresistance in NSCLC cells often gives rise to chemotherapy failure. Therefore, more studies are required to shed light on gene interaction and cellular pathways involved in initiating and developing resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC. Hence, it is urgent to find the key genes, microRNA (miRNAs), and potential molecular mechanisms implicated in chemoresistance and present markers to predict response to platinum-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.The microarray datasets GSE6410, GSE7035, GSE14814, GSE26704, GSE73302 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and were analyzed using R software. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Enrich R site. Then, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and hub genes were obtained using the Cytoscape software. Further, the miRSystem database was performed to predict the miRNAs regulating the hub genes. Moreover, Cytoscape software and the CytoHubba plugin were used to construct the miRNA-target interaction network and hub modules. Finally, the Kaplan–Meier curve was used to demonstrate the survival curves and assess the association of the genes signature with clinical outcomes.A total of 142 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found. The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses present the p53 signaling pathway as the most significant pathway.Besides, from the top ten terms obtained of Biological Process, Molecular Function, and Cellular Component, the first ones, including cholesterol biosynthetic process, the extrinsic component of external side of plasma membrane, cytokine activity, were selected respectively. Based on the PPI network, the ten nodes with the highest degree were screened as hub genes. In addition, from the miRNA–target regulatory network in Cytoscape, ten hub nodes were found. Ultimately, according to Kaplan–Meier curve, BTG2 and TP53I3 with p-value <0.05 were associated with a better prognosis.In the present study, DEGs, candidate miRNAs, and underlying mechanisms involved in chemoresistance were identified to suggest potential biomarkers to provide new clues for the prediction of response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Cholesterol epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) catalyzes the hydration of cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-EC) into cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol. ChEH is a hetero-oligomeric complex called the anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS) comprising 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ8-Δ7-isomerase (D8D7I) and 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ7-reductase (DHCR7). D8D7I and DHCR7 regulate cholesterol biosynthesis, fetal development and growth, tumor cell differentiation and death. The un-reactivity of 5,6-EC toward nucleophiles has recently been demonstrated indicating that 5,6-EC are not alkylating and carcinogenic agents as first postulated. Here we discuss recent advances in the molecular characterization of ChEH, its potential role in cancer progression and resistance as well as the interest of inhibiting ChEH and to accumulate 5,6-EC which may contribute to the anti-tumor and chemopreventive action of ChEH inhibitors used in the clinic such as tamoxifen.

In the nineteen sixties it was proposed that cholesterol might be involved in the etiology of cancers and cholesterol oxidation products were suspected of being causative agents. Researchers had focused their attention on cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-ECs) based on several lines of evidence: 1) 5,6-ECs contained an oxirane group that was supposed to confer alkylating properties such as those observed for aliphatic and aromatic epoxides. 2) cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) was induced in pre-neoplastic lesions of skin from rats exposed to ultraviolet irradiations and ChEH was proposed to be involved in detoxification processes like other epoxide hydrolases. However, 5,6-ECs failed to induce carcinogenicity in rodents which ruled out a potent carcinogenic potential for 5,6-ECs. Meanwhile, clinical studies revealed an anomalous increase in the concentrations of 5,6β-EC in the nipple fluids of patients with pre-neoplastic breast lesions and in the blood of patients with endometrious cancers, suggesting that 5,6-ECs metabolism could be linked with cancer. Paradoxically, ChEH has been recently shown to be totally inhibited by therapeutic concentrations of tamoxifen (Tam), which is one of the main drugs used in the hormonotherapy and the chemoprevention of breast cancers. These data would suggest that the accumulation of 5,6-ECs could represent a risk factor, but we found that 5,6-ECs were involved in the induction of breast cancer cell differentiation and death induced by Tam suggesting a positive role of 5,6-ECs. These observations meant that the biochemistry and the metabolism of 5,6-ECs needed to be extensively studied. We will review the current knowledge and the future direction of 5,6-ECs chemistry, biochemistry, metabolism, and relationship with cancer.

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism involves cellular communication mediated by cell contacts or exchange of bioactive lipids bound to soluble carriers or to lipoproteins. An increasing field is that of cellular communication mediated by nanovesicles called exosomes. Those vesicles are released from an internal compartment of viable cells, circulate in all biological fluids and can transfer material from cell-to-cells. Involvement of exosome trafficking in the transcellular metabolism of eicosanoids and cholesterol-related diseases including cancer is developed hereafter.

Cholesterol plays important roles in many physiological processes, including cell membrane structure and function, hormone synthesis, and the regulation of cellular homeostasis. The role of cholesterol in breast cancer is complex, and some studies have suggested that elevated cholesterol levels may be associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer, while others have found no significant association. On the other hand, other studies have shown that, for total cholesterol and plasma HDL-associated cholesterol levels, there was inverse association with breast cancer risk. One possible mechanism by which cholesterol may contribute to breast cancer risk is as a key precursor of estrogen. Other potential mechanisms by which cholesterol may contribute to breast cancer risk include its role in inflammation and oxidative stress, which have been linked to cancer progression. Cholesterol has also been shown to play a role in signaling pathways regulating the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. In addition, recent studies have shown that cholesterol metabolism can generate tumor promoters such as cholesteryl esters, oncosterone, 27-hydroxycholesterol but also tumor suppressor metabolites such as dendrogenin A. This review summarizes some of the most important clinical studies that have evaluated the role of cholesterol or its derivatives in breast cancer. It also addresses the role of cholesterol and its derivatives at the cellular level.

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator widely used for the prophylactic treatment of breast cancer. In addition to the estrogen receptor (ER), tamoxifen binds with high affinity to the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS), which is involved in ER-independent effects of tamoxifen. In the present study, we investigate the modulation of the biosynthesis of cholesterol in tumor cell lines by AEBS ligands. As a consequence of the treatment with the antitumoral drugs tamoxifen or PBPE, a selective AEBS ligand, we show that tumor cells produced a significant concentration- and time-dependent accumulation of cholesterol precursors. Sterols have been purified by HPLC and gas chromatography, and their chemical structures determined by mass spectrometric analysis. The major metabolites identified were 5α-cholest-8-en-3β-ol for tamoxifen treatment and 5α-cholest-8-en-3β-ol and cholesta-5,7-dien-3β-ol, for PBPE treatment, suggesting that these AEBS ligands affect at least two enzymatic steps: the 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ⁸-Δ⁷-isomerase and the 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ⁷-reductase. Steroidal antiestrogens such as ICI 182,780 and RU 58,668 did not affect these enzymatic steps, because they do not bind to the AEBS. Transient co-expression of human 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ⁸-Δ⁷-isomerase and 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ⁷-reductase and immunoprecipitation experiments showed that both enzymes were required to reconstitute the AEBS in mammalian cells. Altogether, these data provide strong evidence that the AEBS is a hetero-oligomeric complex including 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ⁸-Δ⁷-isomerase and the 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ⁷-reductase as subunits that are necessary and sufficient for tamoxifen binding in mammary cells. Furthermore, because selective AEBS ligands are antitumoral compounds, these data suggest a link between cholesterol metabolism at a post-lanosterol step and tumor growth control. These data afford both the identification of the AEBS and give new insight into a novel molecular mechanism of action for drugs of clinical value.

We have recently reported that cytostatic concentrations of the microsomal antiestrogen-binding site (AEBS) ligands, such as PBPE (N-pyrrolidino-(phenylmethyphenoxy)-ethanamine,HCl) and tamoxifen, induced differentiation characteristics in breast cancer cells through the accumulation of post-lanosterol intermediates of cholesterol biosynthesis. We show here that exposure of MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line) cells to higher concentrations of AEBS ligands triggered active cell death and macroautophagy. Apoptosis was characterized by Annexin V binding, chromatin condensation, DNA laddering and disruption of the mitochondrial functions. We determined that cell death was sterol- and reactive oxygen species-dependent and was prevented by the antioxidant vitamin E. Macroautophagy was characterized by the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, an increase in the expression of Beclin-1 and the stimulation of autophagic flux. We established that macroautophagy was sterol- and Beclin-1-dependent and was associated with cell survival rather than with cytotoxicity, as blockage of macroautophagy sensitized cells to AEBS ligands. These results show that the accumulation of sterols by AEBS ligands in MCF-7 cells induces apoptosis and macroautophagy. Collectively, these data support a therapeutic potential for selective AEBS ligands in breast cancer management and shows a mechanism that explains the induction of autophagy in MCF-7 cells by tamoxifen and other selective estrogen receptor modulators.

Several studies indicate that cholesterol esterification is deregulated in cancers. The present study aimed to characterize the role of cholesterol esterification in proliferation and invasion of two tumor cells expressing an activated cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK2R). A significant increase in cholesterol esterification and activity of Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) was measured in tumor cells expressing a constitutively activated oncogenic mutant of the CCK2R (CCK2R-E151A cells) compared with nontumor cells expressing the wild-type CCK2R (CCK2R-WT cells). Inhibition of cholesteryl ester formation and ACAT activity by Sah58-035, an inhibitor of ACAT, decreased by 34% and 73% CCK2R-E151A cell growth and invasion. Sustained activation of CCK2R-WT cells by gastrin increased cholesteryl ester production while addition of cholesteryl oleate to the culture medium of CCK2R-WT cells increased cell proliferation and invasion to a level close to that of CCK2R-E151A cells. In U87 glioma cells, a model of autocrine growth stimulation of the CCK2R, inhibition of cholesterol esterification and ACAT activity by Sah58-035 and two selective antagonists of the CCK2R significantly reduced cell proliferation and invasion. In both models, cholesteryl ester formation was found dependent on protein kinase zeta/ extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (PKCzeta/ERK1/2) activation. These results show that signaling through ACAT/cholesterol esterification is a novel pathway for the CCK2R that contributes to tumor cell proliferation and invasion.

Tamoxifen (Tam) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that remains one of the major drugs used in the hormonotherapy of breast cancer (BC). In addition to its SERM activity, we recently showed that the oxidative metabolism of cholesterol plays a role in its anticancer pharmacology. We established that these effects were not regulated by the ER but by the microsomal antiestrogen binding site/cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase complex (AEBS/ChEH). The present study aimed to identify the oxysterols that are produced under Tam treatment and to define their mechanisms of action. Tam and PBPE (a selective AEBS/ChEH ligand) stimulated the production and the accumulation of 5,6α-epoxy-cholesterol (5,6α-EC), 5,6α-epoxy-cholesterol-3β-sulfate (5,6-ECS), 5,6β-epoxy-cholesterol (5,6β-EC) in MCF-7 cells through a ROS-dependent mechanism, by inhibiting ChEH and inducing sulfation of 5,6α-EC by SULT2B1b. We showed that only 5,6α-EC was responsible for the induction of triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis by Tam and PBPE, through the modulation of the oxysterol receptor LXRβ. The cytotoxicity mediated by Tam and PBPE was triggered by 5,6β-EC through an LXRβ-independent route and by 5,6-ECS through an LXRβ-dependent mechanism. The importance of SULT2B1b was confirmed by its ectopic expression in the SULT2B1b(-) MDA-MB-231 cells, which became sensitive to 5,6α-EC, Tam or PBPE at a comparable level to MCF-7 cells. This study established that 5,6-EC metabolites contribute to the anticancer pharmacology of Tam and highlights a novel signaling pathway that points to a rationale for re-sensitizing BC cells to Tam and AEBS/ChEH ligands.

Tamoxifen is one of the major drugs used for the hormonotherapy of estrogen receptor positive breast cancers. However, its therapeutic efficacy can be limited by acquired resistance and tumor recurrence can occur after several years of treatment. Tamoxifen is known as the prototypical modulator of estrogen receptors, but other targets have been identified that could account for its pharmacology. In particular, tamoxifen binds with high affinity to the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) and inhibits cholesterol esterification at therapeutic doses. We have recently shown that the AEBS was a hetero-oligomeric complex composed of 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ(8)-Δ(7)-isomerase and 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ(7)-reductase, that binds different structural classes of ligands, including selective estrogen receptor modulators, several sigma receptor ligands, poly-unsaturated fatty acids and ring B oxysterols. We established a link between the modulation of cholesterol metabolism by tamoxifen and other AEBS ligands and their capacity to induce breast cancer cell differentiation, apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, we showed that the AEBS carries out cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase activity and established that cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase is a new target for tamoxifen and other AEBS ligands. Finally in this review, we report on recent data from the literature showing how the modulation of cholesterol and oxysterol metabolism can be linked to the antitumor and chemopreventive properties of tamoxifen, and give new perspectives to improve the clinical outcome of the hormonotherapy of breast cancers.

The oncoprotein MUC-1 was shown to upregulate the transcription of genes encoding cholesterol and lipid metabolic enzymes and correlated with a resistance to Tamoxifen (Tam) despite the presence of estrogen receptor α in breast cancer tumors. The importance of this observation is supported by molecular studies on Tam suggesting two additional pharmacological targets involved in cholesterol metabolism. These observations demonstrate the potential importance of cholesterol and lipid metabolism in the pharmacology/therapeutic effects of Tam.

Accumulating evidence indicates that cholesterol oxygenation products, also known as oxysterols (OS), are involved in breast cancer (BC) promotion. The impact of Tam, as well as aromatase inhibitors (AI), an alternative BC endocrine therapy (ET), on OS metabolism in patients is currently unknown. We conducted a prospective clinical study in BC patients receiving Tam (n = 15) or AI (n = 14) in adjuvant or in metastatic settings. The primary end point was the feasibility of detecting and quantifying 11 different OS in the circulation of patients before and after 28 days of treatment with Tam or AI. Key secondary end points were the measurements of variations in the concentrations of OS according to differences between patients and treatments. OS profiling in the serum of patients was determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. OS profiling was conducted in all patients both at baseline and during treatment regimens. An important inter-individual variability was observed for each OS. Interestingly 5,6β-epoxycholesterol relative concentrations significantly increased in the entire population (p = 0.0109), while no increase in Cholestane-triol (CT) levels was measured. Interestingly, we found that, in contrast to AI, Tam therapy significantly decreased blood levels of 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-HC), 7α-HC and 25-HC (a tumor promoter) (p = 0.0007, p = 0.0231 and p = 0.0231, respectively), whereas 4β-HC levels increased (p = 0.0010). Interestingly, levels of 27-HC (a tumor promoter) significantly increased in response to AI (p = 0.0342), but not Tam treatment. According to these results, specific OS are promising candidate markers of Tam and AI efficacy. Thus, further clinical investigations are needed to confirm the use of oxysterols as biomarkers of both prognosis and/or the efficacy of ET.

Abstract Epidemiologic studies are controversial concerning the roles played by cholesterol in cancer risk and development, possibly as it is not cholesterol per se that is pathologic in cancers. Indeed, recent data reveal that the cholesterol metabolism in cancer cells can generate endogenous oncopromoter metabolites at higher levels compared with normal tissues and/or can be deregulated in the production of endogenous oncosuppressor metabolites in an opposite way. These metabolites are oxysterols, which are cholesterol oxygenation products generated by enzymatic and/or autoxidation processes. All these oxysterols are new classes of estrogen, glucocorticoid, or liver X nuclear receptor ligands, and their protumor action on their cognate receptors could explain some drug resistance, while treatment with antitumor metabolites could complement their deficiency in cancers and restore their action on their nuclear receptor. Given that hypercholesterolemia and high intakes of cholesterol-rich foods or processed foods can generate these oxysterols, their importance in cancer risk or development in overweight and obese people is to be considered. The discovery of these cholesterol-derived metabolites and the identification of the nuclear receptors mediating their pro- or antitumor activities are important findings, which should have major implications in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of different cancers and open new areas of research. Cancer Res; 78(17); 4803–8. ©2018 AACR.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a mammalian cholesterol metabolite recently identified that displays tumor suppressor properties. The discovery of DDA has revealed the existence in mammals of a new metabolic branch in the cholesterol pathway centered on 5,6α-epoxycholesterol and bridging cholesterol metabolism with histamine metabolism. Metabolic studies showed a drop in DDA levels in cancer cells and tumors compared to normal cells, suggesting a link between DDA metabolism deregulation and oncogenesis. Importantly, complementation of cancer cells with DDA induced 1) cancer cell re-differentiation, 2) blockade of 6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol (OCDO) production, an endogenous tumor promoter and 3) lethal autophagy in tumors. Importantly, by binding the liver X receptor (LXR), DDA activates the expression of genes controlling autophagy. These genes include NR4A1, NR4A3, LC3 and TFEB. The canonical LXR ligands 22(R)hydroxycholesterol, TO901317 and GW3965 did not induce these effects indicating that DDA delineates a new class of selective LXR modulator (SLiM). The induction of lethal autophagy by DDA was associated with the accumulation in cancer cells of lysosomes and of the pro-lysosomal cholesterol precursor zymostenol due to the inhibition of the 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ8Δ7-isomerase enzyme (D8D7I). The anti-cancer efficacy of DDA was established on different mouse and human cancers such as breast cancers, melanoma and acute myeloid leukemia, including patient derived xenografts, and did not discriminate bulk cancer cells from cancer cell progenitors. Together these data highlight that the mammalian metabolite DDA is a promising anticancer compound with a broad range of anticancer applications. In addition, DDA and LXR are new actors in the transcriptional control of autophagy and DDA being a "first in line" driver of lethal autophagy in cancers via the LXR.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common female cancers in the world, with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BC the most frequent subtype. Tamoxifen (Tam) is an effective drug that competitively binds to the ER and is routinely used for the treatment of ER-positive BC. However, a number of ER-positive BC do not respond to Tam treatment and acquired resistance is often observed, constituting a major challenge for extending patient life expectancy. The mechanisms responsible for these treatment failures remain unclear, indicating the requirement for other targets and better predictors for patient response to Tam. One of Tam's off-targets of interest is the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS), a multiproteic complex made up of the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) enzymes that are involved in the late stages of cholesterol biosynthesis. Tam and other selective ER modulators stimulate oxidative stress and inhibit the ChEH subunits at pharmacological doses, triggering the production and accumulation of cholesterol-5,6-epoxide metabolites responsible for BC cell differentiation and death. However, inhibition of the cholesterogenic activity of the AEBS subunits also induces the accumulation of sterol precursors, which triggers a survival autophagy to impair Tam's efficacy. Altogether, these studies have highlighted the involvement of cholesterol metabolism in the pharmacology of Tam that has provided new clues on how to improve its therapeutic efficacy in both BC and other cancers as well as offering a new rationale for developing more efficient drugs for BC treatment.

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) used for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Tamoxifen has been reported to protect against the progression of coronary artery diseases in human and different atherosclerosis animal models by blocking the appearance of the atheromatous plaque. However, the molecular mechanism of this effect remains unknown. Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) catalyzes the biosynthesis of cholesteryl esters, which are the major lipids found in the atheromatous plaque. In this paper we have tested whether ACAT might be inhibited by tamoxifen. We show, using molecular modeling, that tamoxifen displays three-dimensional structural homology with Sah 58-035 (3-[decyldimethylsilyl]-N-[2-(4-methylphenyl)-1-phenylethyl]-propanamide), a prototypical inhibitor of ACAT. We report that tamoxifen inhibits ACAT in a concentration-dependent manner on rat liver microsomal extract. We show that the presence on estrogen receptor ligands of a backbone isosteric to the diphenyl ethane backbone of Sah 58-035 constitutes a pharmacophore for ACAT inhibition. More importantly, tamoxifen was able to inhibit ACAT on intact macrophages stimulated with acetylated low-density lipoproteins and blocked the formation of foam cells, a step that precedes the formation of the atheromatous plaque. This work constitutes the first evidence that tamoxifen is an inhibitor of ACAT and foam cell formation at therapeutic doses and that this may account for its atheroprotective action.

Tamoxifen is a well-known antiestrogen used for the hormonotherapy of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. In addition to its high affinity binding to the estrogen receptor (ER), tamoxifen binds with comparable affinity to the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS), and inhibits with a micromolar efficiency, protein kinase C (PKC), calmodulin (CaM)-dependent enzymes and Acyl CoenzymeA: Cholesterol Acyl Transferase (ACAT). Each of these tamoxifen targets might explain the genomic as well as non-genomic effects of tamoxifen. In this review, we will report current knowledge about the structural features of tamoxifen involved in this multiple targeting. These data provide a useful guide for the conception of selective ligands of ERs, AEBS, PKC, CaM or ACAT based on the chemical structure of tamoxifen. Keywords: tamoxifen, antiestrogen, estrogen receptor, pkc, calmodulin, acat, aebs, cancer

We describe here the syntheses and the biological properties of new alkylaminooxysterols. Compounds were synthesized through the trans-diaxial aminolysis of 5,6-alpha-epoxysterols with various natural amines including histamine, putrescine, spermidine, or spermine. The regioselective synthesis of these 16 new 5alpha-hydroxyl-6beta-aminoalkylsterols is presented. Compounds were first screened for dendrite outgrowth and cytotoxicity in vitro, and two leads were selected and further characterized. 5alpha-Hydroxy-6beta-[2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethylamino]cholestan-3beta-ol, called dendrogenin A, induced growth control, differentiation, and the death of tumor cell lines representative of various cancers including metastatic melanoma and breast cancer. 5alpha-Hydroxy-6beta-[3-(4-aminobutylamino)propylamino]cholest-7-en-3beta-ol, called dendrogenin B, induced neurite outgrowth on various cell lines, neuronal differentiation in pluripotent cells, and survival of normal neurones at nanomolar concentrations. In summary, we report that two new alkylaminooxysterols, dendrogenin A and dendrogenin B, are the first members of a class of compounds that induce cell differentiation at nanomolar concentrations and represent promising new leads for the treatment of cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract The microsomal antiestrogen-binding site (AEBS) is a high-affinity membranous binding site for the antitumor drug tamoxifen that selectively binds diphenylmethane derivatives of tamoxifen such as PBPE and mediates their antiproliferative properties. The AEBS is a hetero-oligomeric complex consisting of 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ8-Δ7-isomerase and 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ7-reductase. High-affinity AEBS ligands inhibit these enzymes leading to the massive intracellular accumulation of zymostenol or 7-dehydrocholesterol (DHC), thus linking AEBS binding to the modulation of cholesterol metabolism and growth control. The aim of the present study was to gain more insight into the control of breast cancer cell growth by AEBS ligands. We report that PBPE and tamoxifen treatment induced differentiation in human breast adenocarcinoma cells MCF-7 as indicated by the arrest of cells in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle, the increase in the cell volume, the accumulation and secretion of lipids, and a milk fat globule protein found in milk. These effects were observed with other AEBS ligands and with zymostenol and DHC. Vitamin E abrogates the induction of differentiation and reverses the control of cell growth produced by AEBS ligands, zymostenol, and DHC, showing the importance of the oxidative processes in this effect. AEBS ligands induced differentiation in estrogen receptor-negative mammary tumor cell lines SKBr-3 and MDA-MB-468 but with a lower efficiency than observed with MCF-7. Together, these data show that AEBS ligands exert an antiproliferative effect on mammary cancer cells by inducing cell differentiation and growth arrest and highlight the importance of cholesterol metabolism in these effects. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(12):3707–18]

Auraptene is a prenyloxycoumarin from Citrus species with chemopreventive properties against colitis-related colon and breast cancers through a yet-undefined mechanism. To decipher its mechanism of action, we used a ligand-structure based approach. We established that auraptene fits with a pharmacophore involved in both the inhibition of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) and the modulation of estrogen receptors (ERs). We confirmed experimentally that auraptene inhibits ACAT and binds to ERs in a concentration-dependent manner and that it inhibited ACAT in rat liver microsomes and in intact cancer cells of murine and human origins, with an IC(50) value in the micromolar range. Auraptene bound to ERs with affinities of 7.8 μM for ERα and 7.9 μM for ERβ, stabilized ERs, and modulated their transcriptional activity via an ER-dependent reporter gene and endogenous genes. We further established that these effects correlated well with the control of growth and invasiveness of tumor cells. Our data shed light on the molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer and chemopreventive effects of auraptene.

Metabolic pathways have emerged as cornerstones in carcinogenic deregulation providing new therapeutic strategies for cancer management. Recently, a new branch of cholesterol metabolism has been discovered involving the biochemical transformation of 5,6‐epoxycholesterols (5,6‐ECs). The 5,6‐ECs are metabolized in breast cancers to the tumour promoter oncosterone whereas, in normal breast tissue, they are metabolized to the tumour suppressor metabolite, dendrogenin A (DDA). Blocking the mitogenic and invasive potential of oncosterone will present new opportunities for breast cancer treatment. The reactivation of DDA biosynthesis, or its use as a drug, represents promising therapeutic approaches such as DDA‐deficiency complementation, activation of breast cancer cell re‐differentiation and breast cancer chemoprevention. This review presents current knowledge of the 5,6‐EC metabolic pathway in breast cancer, focusing on the 5,6‐EC metabolic enzymes ChEH and HSD11B2 and on 5,6‐EC metabolite targets, the oxysterol receptor (LXRβ) and the glucocorticoid receptor. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed issue on Oxysterols, Lifelong Health and Therapeutics. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.16/issuetoc

Tumour cells are characterized by having lost their differentiation state. They constitutively secrete small extracellular vesicles (sEV) called exosomes when they come from late endosomes. Dendrogenin A (DDA) is an endogenous tumour suppressor cholesterol-derived metabolite. It is a new class of ligand of the nuclear Liver X receptors (LXR) which regulate cholesterol homeostasis and immunity. We hypothesized that DDA, which induces tumour cell differentiation, inhibition of tumour growth and immune cell infiltration into tumours, could functionally modify sEV secreted by tumour cells. Here, we have shown that DDA differentiates tumour cells by acting on the LXRβ. This results in an increased production of sEV (DDA-sEV) which includes exosomes. The DDA-sEV secreted from DDA-treated cells were characterized for their content and activity in comparison to sEV secreted from control cells (C-sEV). DDA-sEV were enriched, relatively to C-sEV, in several proteins and lipids such as differentiation antigens, "eat-me" signals, lipidated LC3 and the endosomal phospholipid bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate, which stimulates dendritic cell maturation and a Th1 T lymphocyte polarization. Moreover, DDA-sEV inhibited the growth of tumours implanted into immunocompetent mice compared to control conditions. This study reveals a pharmacological control through a nuclear receptor of exosome-enriched tumour sEV secretion, composition and immune function. Targeting the LXR may be a novel way to reprogram tumour cells and sEV to stimulate immunity against cancer.

We developed new stilbene derivatives of resveratrol (E)-1-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethene) selective for AhR and devoid of affinity for ER. Among the 24 stilbenes synthesized, all display a higher affinity than resveratrol for AhR. (E)-1-(4'-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(3,5-ditrifluoromethylphenyl)ethene (4e), (E)-1-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethene (4j), and (E)-1-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethene (4b) are selective, high-affinity AhR antagonists with, respective, K(i)s of 2.1, 1.4, and 1.2 nM. (E)-1-(4'-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethene (4i) displays a K(i) of 0.2 nM and is a selective and high-affinity agonist on AhR.

We recently established that drugs used for the treatment and the prophylaxis of breast cancers, such as tamoxifen, were potent inhibitors of cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH), which led to the accumulation of 5,6α-epoxy-cholesterol (5,6α-EC) and 5,6β-epoxy-cholesterol (5,6β-EC). This could be considered a paradox because epoxides are known as alkylating agents with putative carcinogenic properties. We report here that, as opposed to the carcinogen styrene-oxide, neither of the ECs reacted spontaneously with nucleophiles. Under catalytic conditions, 5,6β-EC remains unreactive whereas 5,6α-EC gives cholestan-3β,5α-diol-6β-substituted compounds. These data showed that 5,6-ECs are stable epoxides and unreactive toward nucleophiles in the absence of a catalyst, which contrasts with the well-known reactivity of aromatic and aliphatic epoxides. These data rule out 5,6-EC acting as spontaneous alkylating agents. In addition, these data support the existence of a stereoselective metabolism of 5,6α-EC.

Tocols are vitamin E compounds that include tocopherols (TP) and tocotrienols (TT). These lipophilic compounds are phenolic antioxidants and are reportedly able to modulate estrogen receptor β (ERβ). We investigated the molecular determinants that control their estrogenicity and effects on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Docking experiments highlighted the importance of the tocol phenolic groups for their interaction with the ERs. Binding experiments confirmed that they directly interact with both ERα and ERβ with their isoforms showing potencies in the following order: δ-Tocols>γ-Tocols>α-Tocols. We also found that tocols activated the transcription of an estrogen-responsive reporter gene that had been stably transfected into cells expressing either ERα or ERβ. The role of the phenolic group in tocol-ER interaction was further established using δ-tocopherylquinone, the oxidized form of δ-TP, which had no ER affinity and did not induce ER-dependent transcriptional modulation. Tocol activity also required the AF1 transactivation domain of ER. We found that both δ-TP and δ-TT stimulated the expression of endogenous ER-dependent genes. However, whereas δ-TP induced the proliferation of ER-positive breast cancer cells but not ER-negative breast cancer cells, δ-TT inhibited the proliferation of both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cells. These effects of δ-TT were found to act through the down regulation of HMG-CoA reductase activity, establishing that ERs are not involved in this effect. Altogether these data show that the reduced form of δ-TP has estrogenic properties which are lost when it is oxidized, highlighting the importance of the redox status in its estrogenicity. Moreover, we have shown that δ-TT has antiproliferative effects on breast cancer cells independently of their ER status through the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. These data clearly show that TPs can be discriminated from TTs according to their structure.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy characterized by the accumulation of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite extensive efforts to design drugs targeting tumoral cells and their microenvironment, MM remains an incurable disease for which new therapeutic strategies are needed. We demonstrated here that antiestrogens (AEs) belonging to selective estrogen receptor modulators family induce a caspase-dependent apoptosis and trigger a protective autophagy. Autophagy was recognized by monodansylcadaverin staining, detection of autophagosomes by electronic microscopy, and detection of the cleaved form of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3. Moreover, autophagy was inhibited by drugs such as bafilomycin A1 and 3-methyladenosine. Autophagy was mediated by the binding of AEs to a class of receptors called the antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) different from the classical estrogen nuclear receptors. The binding of specific ligands to the AEBS was accompanied by alteration of cholesterol metabolism and in particular accumulation of sterols: zymostenol or desmosterol depending on the ligand. This was due to the inhibition of the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase activity borne by the AEBS. We further showed that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway mediated autophagy signaling. Moreover, AEBS ligands restored sensitivity to dexamethasone in resistant MM cells. Since we showed previously that AEs arrest MM tumor growth in xenografted mice, we propose that AEBS ligands may have a potent antimyeloma activity alone or in combination with drugs used in clinic.

Progesterone, the cationic amphiphile U18666A and a phospholipase inhibitor (Methyl Arachidonyl Fluoro Phosphonate, MAFP) inhibited by 70%–90% HIV production in viral reservoir cells, i.e. human THP-1 monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM). These compounds triggered an inhibition of fluid phase endocytosis (macropinocytosis) and modified cellular lipid homeostasis since endosomes accumulated filipin-stained sterols and Bis(Monoacylglycero)Phosphate (BMP). BMP was quantified using a new cytometry procedure and was increased by 1.25 times with MAFP, 1.7 times with U18666A and 2.5 times with progesterone. MAFP but not progesterone or U18666A inhibited the hydrolysis of BMP by the Pancreatic Lipase Related Protein 2 (PLRP2) as shown by in-vitro experiments. The possible role of sterol transporters in steroid-mediated BMP increase is discussed. Electron microscopy showed the accumulation of viral particles either into large intracellular viral-containing compartments or outside the cells, indicating that endosomal accumulation of BMP could block intracellular biogenesis of viral particles while inhibition of macropinocytosis would prevent viral particle uptake. This is the first report linking BMP metabolism with a natural steroid such as progesterone or with involvement of a phospholipase A1 activity. BMP cellular content could be used as a biomarker for efficient anti-viral drugs.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a mammalian metabolite that displays anticancer and chemopreventive properties in mice. At the cancer cell level, DDA induces differentiation and death. We investigated herein the nature of DDA cytoxicity in cancer cells. We showed that DDA triggers biochemical and cellular features of macroautophagy/autophagy and that autophagy is cytotoxic. DDA induces both the accumulation of pro-lysosomal sterols and stimulates the expression of regulators of autophagy such as NR4A, LC3 and TFEB through binding to the liver X receptor (LXR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor consisting of 2 isoforms, NR1H2 and NR1H3. These effects are not observed with canonical LXR agonists such as the oxysterol 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol or the synthetic molecules T0901317 and GW3965. DDA effects were measured on melanoma and acute myeloid leukemia cells including patient-derived leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly the induction of lethal autophagy kills cells independently of their cytogenetic subgroups and does not differentiate bulk cancer cells from cancer cell progenitors. Together these data show that DDA drives LXR to induce the expression of autophagic genes leading to cancer cells death. This opens up new perspectives for cancer treatment.

Liver X receptors (LXRs) α (NR1H3) and β (NR1H2) are nuclear receptors that have been involved in the regulation of many physiological processes, principally in the control of cholesterol homeostasis, as well as in the control of the cell death and proliferation balance. These receptors are thus promising therapeutic targets in various pathologies such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes and/or cancers. These receptors are known to be activated by specific oxysterol compounds. The screening for LXR-specific ligands is a challenging process: indeed, these molecules should present a specificity towards each LXR-isoform. Because some natural products have significant effects in the regulation of the LXR-regulated homeostasis and are enriched in flavonoids, we have decided to test in cell culture the effects of 4 selected flavonoids (galangin, quercetin, apigenin and naringenin) on the modulation of LXR activity using double-hybrid experiments. In silico, molecular docking suggests specific binding pattern between agonistic and antagonistic molecules. Altogether, these results allow a better understanding of the ligand binding pocket of LXRα/β. They also improve our knowledge about flavonoid mechanism of action, allowing the selection and development of better LXR selective ligands.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a tumor suppressor mammalian cholesterol-derived metabolite and a new class of ligand of the Liver X receptor (LXR), which displays tumor cell differentiation. In human MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells, DDA-induced cell differentiation was associated with an increased accumulation of neutral lipids and proteins found in milk indicating that DDA re-activates some functions of lactating cells. Active iodide transport occurs in the normal lactating mammary cells through the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) and iodide (I) is secreted into milk to be used by the nursing newborn for thyroid hormones biosynthesis. In the present study, we assessed whether DDA may induce other characteristic of lactating cells such as NIS expression and iodine uptake in MCF7 breast cancer cells and extended this study to the papillary B-CPAP and undifferentiated anaplastic 8505c thyroid cancer cells. Moreover, we evaluated DDA impact on the expression of thyroid specific proteins involved in thyroid hormone biogenesis. We report here that DDA induces NIS expression in MCF7 cells and significantly increases the uptake of 131-I by acting through the LXR. In addition, DDA induces phenotypic, molecular and functional characteristics of redifferentiation in the two human thyroid carcinoma cell lines and the uptake of 131-I in the undifferentiated 8505c cells was associated with a strong expression of all the specific proteins involved in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, TSH receptor, thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin. 131-I incorporation in the 8505c cells was stimulated by DDA as well as by the synthetic LXR ligand, GW3965. Together these data show that the re-differentiation of breast and thyroid cancer cells by DDA, is associated with the recovery of functional NIS expression and involves an LXR-dependent mechanism. These results open new avenues of research for the diagnosis of thyroid cancers as well as the development of new therapeutic approaches for radioiodine refractory thyroid cancers.

Cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT) is a primary metabolite of 5,6-epoxycholesterols (5,6-EC) that is catalyzed by the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH). CT is a well-known biomarker for Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C), a progressive inherited neurodegenerative disease. On the other hand, CT is known to be metabolized by the 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase of type 2 (11β-HSD2) into a tumor promoter named oncosterone that stimulates the growth of breast cancer tumors. Sulfation is a major metabolic transformation leading to the production of sulfated oxysterols. The production of cholestane-5α,6β-diol-3β-O-sulfate (CDS) has been reported in breast cancer cells. However, no data related to CDS biological properties have been reported so far. These studies have been hampered because sulfate esters of sterols and steroids are rapidly hydrolyzed by steroid sulfatase to give free steroids and sterols. In order to get insight into the biological properties of CDS, we report herein the synthesis and the characterization of cholestane-5α,6β-diol-3β-sulfonate (CDSN), a non-hydrolysable analogue of CDS. We show that CDSN is a potent inhibitor of 11β-HSD2 that blocks oncosterone production on cell lysate. The inhibition of oncosterone biosynthesis of a whole cell assay was observed but results from the blockage by CDSN of the uptake of CT in MCF-7 cells. While CDSN inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation, we found that it potentiates the cytotoxic activity of post-lanosterol cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors such as tamoxifen and PBPE. This effect was associated with an increase of free sterols accumulation and the appearance of giant multilamellar bodies, a structural feature reminiscent of Type C Niemann-Pick disease cells and consistent with a possible inhibition by CDSN of NPC1. Altogether, our data showed that CDSN is biologically active and that it is a valuable tool to study the biological properties of CDS and more specifically its impact on immunity and viral infection.

Cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-ECs) are oxysterols (OS) that have been linked to several pathologies including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. 5,6-ECs can be produced from cholesterol by several mechanisms including reactive oxygen species, lipoperoxidation, and cytochrome P450 enzymes. 5,6-ECs exist as two different diastereoisomers: 5,6α-EC and 5,6β-EC with different metabolic fates. They can be produced as a mixture or as single products of epoxidation. The epoxide ring of 5,6α-EC and 5,6β-EC is very stable and 5,6-ECs are prone to hydration by the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) to give cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol, which can be further oxidized into oncosterone. 5,6α-EC is prone to chemical and enzymatic conjugation reactions leading to bioactive compounds such as dendrogenins, highlighting the existence of a new metabolic branch on the cholesterol pathway centered on 5,6α-EC. We will summarize in this chapter current knowledge on this pathway which is controlled by the ChEH.

Purpose: Recent developments of hybrid realistic models, such as Moby (mouse) and Roby (rat) developed by Segars et al. [“Development of a 4‐D digital mouse phantom for molecular imaging research,” Mol. Imaging Biol. 6, – (2004) 10.1016/j.mibio.2004.03.002 ] have found several applications in preclinical experiments. Indeed, their improved realism and flexibility in terms of mass scaling represent an attractive option for absorbed dose calculations based on “representative” models. However, the range of radiations involved in small animal molecular imaging and radiotherapy is of the same order of magnitude as organs of interest dimensions. As a consequence, minor geometric variations between rodents may lead to major differences in absorbed dose calculations. This study aims at validating a voxel‐based model for use in absorbed dose estimates with two Monte Carlo codes and at assessing the dosimetric impact of Moby‐based models definition. Methods: The authors generated a 30 g‐mouse phantom based on realistic hybrid model Moby (version 1). Dosimetric calculations (S‐values, specific absorbed fraction) were performed with two Monte Carlo codes (MCNPX v2.7a and GATE v6.1) for 18 F, and a comparison with values published for Radiation Dose Assessment Resource realistic animal series was made. Several parameters such as material definition/densities, fine suborgan segmentation for airways (trachea, lungs, remaining body), bones (ribs, spine, skull, remaining bones), heart (blood pool and myocardium), and stomach (wall and gastrointestinal content) were further studied, as well as nuclear data and spatial sampling. Results: Most organ masses matched the reference model (Moby v1) within ±6%, except lungs, thyroid, and bones for which differences could reach 29%. Comparison of S‐values (especially self‐S‐values) was consistent with mass differences observed between the two models. The reciprocity theorem for source/target pairs was satisfied within few percents for specific absorbed fractions (g −1 ). However, significant discrepancies, reaching 160%, were observed for mutual liver/stomach/spleen S‐values and could not be directly related to mass variations. Nonetheless, differences between S‐values calculated with MCNPX and GATE for our model remained in the order of a few percents, i.e., within statistical uncertainties. Besides, modifications of organ densities increased S‐values up to a factor 50 for the lungs/thyroid pair when upper airway was properly segmented out of the body. Specific material composition and densities for several bone types led to a 10% decrease of S‐values from the bone source to several target organs. Moreover, relative differences up to 100% were observed for S(stomach wall⇐spleen) when improving spatial‐sampling by a factor 3. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that comparison between two “similar” realistic digital mouse whole‐body phantoms generated from the same software still led to very different S‐values, even when total body and organ mass scaling were performed. Moreover, parameters such as organ segmentation, tissue material/density, or spatial sampling should be defined and reported with great care to perform accurate small animal absorbed dose calculation based on “reference” models.

Cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) in mammals is a heterooligomeric complex of two cholesterogenic enzymes that control mammalian developmental programs. Following the identification of this complex, it was hypothesized that a new metabolic pathway existed that centered on 5,6-epoxy cholesterols (5,6-EC). Conjugation products of 5,6-EC with biogenic amines known to interact with ChEH subunits were synthesized. According to their structures, these steroidal alkaloids showed the specific potency to induce cell differentiation at low doses, suggesting their possible existence as metabolites. One of these compounds, named dendrogenin A (DDA), was recently discovered in mammalian tissues. It was shown that DDA arises from the stereoselective enzymatic conjugation of 5,6α-epoxy-cholesterol with histamine by an as-yet-unidentified enzyme. DDA was detected in normal tissues from several organs but not in cancer cells and its level was decreased in breast tumors from patients, evidencing a deregulation of DDA metabolism during carcinogenesis. DDA was also able to control the growth of tumor cells implanted in mice and improve animal survival. In addition, DDA efficiently restored hearing in a preclinical model of deafness. These biological properties of DDA, as well as its decreased levels in tumors, suggest a physiological function in maintaining cell integrity and differentiation. DDA is the first steroidal alkaloid found to date in mammals. Its discovery reveals the existence of a new metabolic pathway in mammals at the crossroads of cholesterol and histamine metabolism that leads to the production of a metabolic tumor suppressor and neuroprotective agent. Keywords: AEBS, cancer, cholesterol, cholesterol-5, 6-epoxide hydrolase, dendrogenin, steroidal alkaloid, tamoxifen.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) and dendrogenin B (DDB) are new aminoalkyl oxysterols which display re-differentiation of tumor cells of neuronal origin at nanomolar concentrations. We analyzed the influence of dendrogenins on adult mice neural stem cell proliferation, sphere formation and differentiation. DDA and DDB were found to have potent proliferative effects in neural stem cells. Additionally, they induce neuronal outgrowth from neurospheres during in vitro cultivation. Taken together, our results demonstrate a novel role for dendrogenins A and B in neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation which further increases their likely importance to compensate for neuronal cell loss in the brain.

Tamoxifen (Tam) was developed as a ligand and modulator of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and is one of the main drugs used globally for the hormonotherapy of breast cancers. Besides ERα, Tam also binds with high affinity to the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS). The AEBS is a hetero-oligomeric proteinaceous complex with cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) activity that is associated with an intracellular histamine (HA) binding site. The enzymatic activities of the ChEH subunits control developmental programs in mammals and transform cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-EC) into cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol. Inhibition of the ChEH activity by pharmacological agents such as Tam induce cancer cell re-differentiation through the accumulation of 5,6-EC. A few years ago, the putative chemical reactivity of the 5,6-EC epoxide group towards nucleophiles led our group to hypothesize that 5,6-EC could react with HA that was co-localized at the AEBS to give a new molecule involved in cell differentiation. This hypothesis was chemically tested and the conjugation of 5,6α-EC: with HA was found possible but only under catalytic conditions. It gave a stereo-selective single product of transformation which was named dendrogenin A (DDA). DDA was found to display potent cancer cell differentiation and anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that it was a tumor suppressor metabolite. The presence of DDA was then established in several mammalian tissues, providing the first evidence of a steroidal alkaloid metabolite in mammals. The discovery of DDA highlights a new metabolic pathway in mammals which lies at the crossroads of cholesterol and histamine metabolism and produces this tumor suppressor metabolite.

Oxygenation products of cholesterol, named oxysterols, were suspected since the 20th century to be involved in carcinogenesis. Among the family of oxysterol molecules, cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-EC) retained the attention of scientists because they contain a putative alkylating epoxide group. However, studies failed into demonstrating that 5,6-EC were direct carcinogens and revealed a surprising chemical stability and unreactivity towards nucleophiles in standard conditions. Analyses of 5,6-EC metabolism in normal cells showed that they were extensively transformed into cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT) by the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH). Studies performed in cancer cells showed that CT was additionally metabolized into an oxysterol identified as the 6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol (OCDO), by the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of type 2 (HSD2), the enzyme which inactivates cortisol into cortisone. Importantly, OCDO was shown to display tumor promoter properties in breast cancers, by binding to the glucocorticoid receptor, and independently of their estrogen receptor status, revealing the existence of a new tumorigenic pathway centered on 5,6-EC. In breast tumors from patients, OCDO production as well as the expression of the enzymes involved in the pathway producing OCDO, namely ChEH subunits and HSD2, were higher compared to normal tissues, and overexpression of these enzymes correlate with a higher risk of patient death, indicating that this onco-metabolism is of major importance to breast cancer pathology. Herein, we will review the actual knowledge and the future trends in OCDO chemistry, biochemistry, metabolism and mechanism of action and will discuss the impact of OCDO discovery on new anticancer therapeutic strategies.

Cyclic dinucleotides are important messengers for bacteria and protozoa and are well-characterized immunity alarmins for infected mammalian cells through intracellular binding to STING receptors. We sought to investigate their unknown extracellular effects by adding cyclic dinucleotides to the culture medium of freshly isolated human blood cells in vitro. Here we report that adenosine-containing cyclic dinucleotides induce the selective apoptosis of monocytes through a novel apoptotic pathway. We demonstrate that these compounds are inverse agonist ligands of A2a, a Gαs-coupled adenosine receptor selectively expressed by monocytes. Inhibition of monocyte A2a by these ligands induces apoptosis through a mechanism independent of that of the STING receptors. The blockade of basal (adenosine-free) signaling from A2a inhibits protein kinase A (PKA) activity, thereby recruiting cytosolic p53, which opens the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and impairs mitochondrial respiration, resulting in apoptosis. A2a antagonists and inverse agonist ligands induce apoptosis of human monocytes, while A2a agonists are antiapoptotic. In vivo, we used a mock developing human hematopoietic system through NSG mice transplanted with human CD34(+) cells. Treatment with cyclic di-AMP selectively depleted A2a-expressing monocytes and their precursors via apoptosis. Thus, monocyte recognition of cyclic dinucleotides unravels a novel proapoptotic pathway: the A2a Gαs protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-driven tonic inhibitory signaling of mitochondrion-induced cell death.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) is the first steroidal alkaloid (SA) to be identified in human tissues to date and arises from the stereoselective enzymatic conjugation of 5,6α-epoxycholesterol (5,6α-EC) with histamine (HA). DDA induces the re-differentiation of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and prevents breast cancer (BC) and melanoma development in mice, evidencing its protective role against oncogenesis. In addition, DDA production is lower in BCs compared with normal tissues, suggesting a deregulation of its biosynthesis during carcinogenesis. The discovery of DDA reveals the existence of a new metabolic pathway in mammals which lies at the crossroads of cholesterol and HA metabolism and which leads to the production of this metabolic tumour suppressor.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common female cancer in terms of incidence and mortality worldwide. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is a widely prescribed, oral anti-estrogen drug for the hormonal treatment of estrogen-receptor-positive BC, which represents 70% of all BC subtypes. This review assesses the current knowledge on the molecular pharmacology of tamoxifen in terms of its anticancer and chemo-preventive actions. Due to the importance of vitamin E compounds, which are widely taken as a supplementary dietary component, the review focuses only on the potential importance of vitamin E in BC chemo-prevention. The chemo-preventive and onco-protective effects of tamoxifen combined with the potential effects of vitamin E can alter the anticancer actions of tamoxifen. Therefore, methods involving an individually designed, nutritional intervention for patients with BC warrant further consideration. These data are of great importance for tamoxifen chemo-prevention strategies in future epidemiological studies.

Keywords: lipids, lipid oxidation, lipoprotein, cancer, immune cells, fatty acid, triple-negative breast cancer, HPV

Our quest to identify target proteins involved in the activity of tamoxifen led to the design of photoaffinity ligand analogues of tamoxifen able to cross-link such proteins. A new tritiated photoprobe, 4-(2-morpholinoethoxy)benzophenone (MBoPE), was synthesized and used to identify proteins involved in tamoxifen binding in rat liver. MBoPE, which has structural features in common with the potential antagonist of the intracellular histamine receptor (N,N-diethyl-2-[(4-phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethanamine HCl: DPPE) is unable to bind the estrogen receptor although it does compete with tamoxifen for an antiestrogen binding site (AEBS). This tritiated benzophenone derivative was obtained by metal-catalyzed halogen−tritium replacement reaction. Because of its high specific activity, four target proteins could be photolabeled, three of which were identified with Mr of 60 000, 49 500, and 14 000, while the fourth at 27 500 was in too low an amount and could not be sequenced. The 49.5 kDa protein corresponded by mass spectrometry to the microsomal epoxide hydrolase already identified with an aryl azide photoprobe [Mesange, F., et al. (1998) Biochem. J. 334, 107−112]. The 60 and 14 kDa proteins were identified as the carboxylesterase (ES10) and the liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP), respectively. The inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on carboxylesterase activity and the competitive efficacy of oleic acid on [3H]tamoxifen binding suggest that both proteins are AEBS subunits. Moreover, treatment of hepatocytes with antisense mRNA directed against ES10 or L-FABP abolished both tamoxifen and MBoPE binding. On the basis of previous pharmacological arguments, the 27.5 kDa protein might correspond to the sigma I receptor. Altogether, these results confirm that the microsomal epoxide hydrolase is a target for tamoxifen and provide evidence of two new target proteins implicated in cell lipid metabolism.

We have previously shown that FTI-277, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI), enhances the efficacy of tamoxifen (Tam) in inhibiting the proliferation of the estrogen dependent MCF-7 cell line. As the cellular response to Tam is the result of an inhibition of both estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent pathways, we have used the estrogen receptor selective anti-estrogen ICI182,780 and N-pyrrolidine(-phenylmethyl-phenoxy)-ethanamine-HCl (PBPE), a selective ligand of anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS), to dissect out the mechanism(s) associated with the observed additivity resulting from combination treatment with FTI-277 and Tam. Moreover, for these studies, FTI-277 has been replaced by R115,777, a FTI currently in phase III clinical trials.The quantitative sulphorhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric assay was used to determine the growth inhibitory effect of agents on MCF-7 cells. Dose response interactions between R115,777-Tam, R115,777-ICI182,780 and R115,777-PBPE were evaluated, at the IC50 point, using the isobologram method. Apoptotic cell death (DNA fragmentation, nucleus condensation and cytokeratin 18 cleavage) and inhibition of the mevalonate pathway (western blot) were also determined.Combinations of the specific FTI R115,777 with either ICI182,780 or PBPE exhibit a synergistic effect on MCF-7 cell growth inhibition, while its combination with Tam is additive, as previously reported for FTI-277. Apoptosis is detected after treatment with combinations of R115,777 with either Tam or PBPE but not with ICI182,780, suggesting that each combination inhibits cell proliferation by different mechanisms. Even though the ER pathway has not yet been deciphered, it is shown here that the AEBS pathway is able to interfere with the mevalonate pathway at the level of protein farnesylation.Overall, this work reveals that combinations of R115,777 with either selective ER ligands or a selective AEBS ligand are able to induce large increases in their anti-proliferative activities on MCF-7 cells. Moreover, these results suggest that it may be of definite interest to evaluate combinations of R115,777 with different anti-estrogens in the treatment of ER positive breast tumours. Based on these experimental data, such combinations may prove beneficial in different clinical scenarios or when used in specific sequences; studying the combination of R115,777 with ICI182,780 for early treatment and reserving combinations with either Tam or a selective AEBS ligand, such as BMS-217380-01, for more resistant disease.

Several diphenylmethane derivatives have been synthesized with variable affinities for Anti-estrogen Binding Sites (ABS) but not for the estrogen receptor. Using these molecules as probes it is shown that their binding affinities for ABS correlate with their abilities to inhibit the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In contrast they have no influence on the proliferation of tamoxifen-resistant variant cells (RTx6) in which ABS are undetectable. These data support the conclusion that ABS has a functional role in the anti-proliferative effect of triphenylethylene anti-estrogens and structurally related compounds.

Umbelliprenin has recently been shown to have great potential as a skin whitening agent. Wishing to investigate the same effect in plant species known to biosynthesize this coumarin, three plants belonging to the Apiaceae family, namely Anethum graveolens L. (dill), Pimpinella anisum L. (anise), and Ferulago campestris (Besser) Grecescu (field ferula) were screened by HPLC analysis for their respective content of umbelliprenin in extracts obtained with different solvent mixtures and by maceration and ultrasound-assisted processes. EtOH was shown to be the best solvent, providing umbelliprenin yields ranging from 1.7% to 14.4% (with respect to the total amount of extract obtained). Extracts with the highest content of this farnesyloxycoumarin were then assayed as modulators of melanogenesis in cultured murine Melan A cells employing the same umbelliprenin obtained by chemical synthesis as the reference. A parallelism between the content of the coumarin and the recorded depigmenting effect (60% for the EtOH extract of F. campestris as the best value) was revealed for all plants extracts when applied at a dose of 100 μg/mL. Our results demonstrate that the same potential of umbelliprenin can be ascribed also to umbelliprenin-enriched plant extracts which reinforces enforce the widespread use of phyto-preparations for cosmetic purposes (e.g., A. graveolens).

Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a mammalian cholesterol metabolite that displays potent antitumor properties on acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DDA triggers lethal autophagy in cancer cells through a biased activation of the oxysterol receptor LXRβ, and the inhibition of a sterol isomerase. We hypothesize that DDA could potentiate the activity of an anticancer drug acting through a different molecular mechanism, and conducted in vitro and in vivo combination tests on AML cell lines and patient primary tumors. We report here results from tests combining DDA with antimetabolite cytarabine (Ara-C), one of the main drugs used for AML treatment worldwide. We demonstrated that DDA potentiated and sensitized AML cells, including primary patient samples, to Ara-C in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that this sensitization was LXRβ-dependent and was due to the activation of lethal autophagy. This study demonstrates a positive in vitro and in vivo interaction between DDA and Ara-C, and supports the clinical evaluation of DDA in combination with Ara-C for the treatment of AML.

Cholesterol esterification proteins Sterol-O acyltransferases (SOAT) 1 and 2 are emerging prognostic markers in many cancers. These enzymes utilise fatty acids conjugated to coenzyme A to esterify cholesterol. Cholesterol esterification is tightly regulated and enables formation of lipid droplets that act as storage organelles for lipid soluble vitamins and minerals, and as cholesterol reservoirs. In cancer, this provides rapid access to cholesterol to maintain continual synthesis of the plasma membrane. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarise the current depth of understanding of the role of this metabolic pathway in pan-cancer development. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for preclinical studies identified eight studies where cholesteryl ester concentrations were compared between tumour and adjacent-normal tissue, and 24 studies where cholesterol esterification was blocked by pharmacological or genetic approaches. Tumour tissue had a significantly greater concentration of cholesteryl esters than non-tumour tissue (p < 0.0001). Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of SOAT was associated with significantly smaller tumours of all types (p ≤ 0.002). SOAT inhibition increased tumour apoptosis (p = 0.007), CD8 + lymphocyte infiltration and cytotoxicity (p ≤ 0.05), and reduced proliferation (p = 0.0003) and metastasis (p < 0.0001). Significant risk of publication bias was found and may have contributed to a 32% overestimation of the meta-analysed effect size. Avasimibe, the most frequently used SOAT inhibitor, was effective at doses equivalent to those previously reported to be safe and tolerable in humans. This work indicates that SOAT inhibition should be explored in clinical trials as an adjunct to existing anti-neoplastic agents.

New compounds have been synthesized based on the structure of the anti-tumoral drug tamoxifen and its diphenylmethane derivative, N,N-diethyl-2-[(4-phenyl-methyl)-phenoxy]-ethanamine, HCl (DPPE). These new compounds have no affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER) and bind with various affinity to the anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS). Compounds 2, 10, 12, 13, 20a, 20b, 23a, 23b, 29 exhibited 1.1–69.5 higher affinity than DPPE, and compounds 23a and 23b have 1.2 and 3.5 higher affinity than tamoxifen. Three-dimensional structure analysis, performed using the intersection of the van der Waals volume occupied by tamoxifen in its crystallographic state and the van der Waals volume of these new compounds in their calculated minimal energy conformation, correlated well with their pKi for AEBS (r=0.84, P<0.0001, n=18). This is the first structure-affinity relationship (SAR) ever reported for AEBS ligands. Moreover in this study we have reported the synthesis of new compounds of higher affinity than the lead compounds and that are highly specific for AEBS. Since these compounds do not bind ER they will be helpful to study AEBS mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover our study shows that our strategy is a new useful guide to design high affinity and selective ligands for AEBS.

The cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK2R) increases proliferation of normal and neoplastic gastrointestinal cells and activates various mitogenic signaling pathways when stimulated by gastrin. To study the incidence of permanent activation of this receptor in tumorigenicity, a constitutively active mutant was generated by replacing residue Glu151 in the conserved E/DRY motif by Ala. Expression of the E151A-CCK2R mutant in NIH-3T3 cells causes ligand-independent activation of phospholipase C and ornithine decarboxylase, two enzymes critical for mitogenesis. Strikingly, the constitutive activity of this mutant was associated with dramatic alteration of NIH-3T3 cell morphology, enhanced cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, injection of cells expressing E151A-CCK2R in nude mice resulted in the development of large and rapidly growing tumors. By contrast, none of these effects was observed with cells expressing the wild-type CCK2R, indicating that the tumorigenic properties of the E151A-CCK2R mutant is the result of its constitutive activation. To date, this is the first report that provides evidence for the high tumorigenic effect of a constitutively active CCK2R mutant, thus raising a potential role of the CCK2R in human cancer.

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A tritiated photoaffinity labelling analogue of tamoxifen, [(2-azido-4-benzyl)-phenoxy]-N-ethylmorpholine (azido-MBPE), was used to identify the anti-oestrogen-binding site (AEBS) in rat liver tissue [Poirot, Chailleux, Fargin, Bayard and Faye (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17039-17043]. UV irradiation of rat liver microsomal proteins incubated with tritiated azido-MBPE led to the characterization of two photolabelled proteins of molecular masses 40 and 50 kDa. The amino acid sequences of proteolytic products from the 50 kDa protein were identical with those from rat microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH). Treatment of hepatocytes with anti-sense mRNA directed against mEH abolished AEBS in these cells. In addition we found that tamoxifen and N-morpholino-2-[4-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethanamine, a selective ligand of AEBS, were potent inhibitors of the catalytic hydration of styrene oxide by mEH. However, functional overexpression of the human mEH did not significantly modify the binding capacity of [3H]tamoxifen. Taken together, these results suggest that the 50 kDa protein, mEH, is necessary but not sufficient to reconstitute AEBS.

1-Benzyl-4-(N-2-pyrrolidinylethoxy)benzene (PBPE) is a cytotoxic derivative of the antitumoral drug tamoxifen. PBPE binds with high-affinity and specificity to the microsomal antiestrogen-binding site (AEBS). PBPE, as well as some other high-affinity AEBS ligands, shares structural features with high-affinity and selective sigma receptor ligands in the N-(arylethyl)-N-alkyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethylamine class, such as BD1008, which are cytotoxic against tumoral cells. Based on these structural and pharmacological similitudes, we set out to examine whether AEBS and sigma receptors could be related binding sites. We showed that BD1008 had a high affinity for AEBS. However, prototypical sigma receptor ligands were very low-affinity competitors on AEBS. Surprisingly, AEBS ligands displayed a high affinity for sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptor subtypes, showing that AEBS and sigma receptor-binding sites were not mutually exchangeable. Moreover, phenytoin, which is an allosteric modulator of sigma-1 receptor, was a competitive inhibitor of [3H]tamoxifen on AEBS. These results suggest that the tamoxifen-binding site on AEBS and the sigma ligand-binding site on sigma receptors were not identical but related entities. We also showed here that the high-affinity and specific AEBS ligands also bound sigma receptors with high affinity. Moreover, the compounds that were capable of displacing tamoxifen from AEBS were cytotoxic against tumoral cells but not against the AEBS-deficient cell line Rtx-6. These results confirm that AEBS and sigma receptors might belong to the same family of proteins, and that the tamoxifen-binding site might be involved in the cytotoxicity of AEBS ligands and some classes of sigma compounds.

The cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors CCK1R and CCK2R exert important central and peripheral functions by binding the neuropeptide cholecystokinin. Because these receptors are potential therapeutic targets, great interest has been devoted to the identification of efficient ligands that selectively activate or inhibit these receptors. A complete mapping of the CCK binding site in these receptors would help to design new CCK ligands and to optimize their properties. In this view, a molecular model of the CCK2R occupied by CCK was built to identify CCK2R residues that interact with CCK functional groups. No such study has yet been reported for the CCK2R. Docking of CCK in the receptor was performed by taking into account our previous mutagenesis data and by using, as constraint, the direct interaction that we demonstrated between His207 in the CCK2R and Asp8 of CCK (Mol Pharmacol 54:364-371, 1998; J Biol Chem 274:23191-23197, 1999). Two residues that had not been revealed in our previous mutagenesis studies, Tyr189 (Y4.60) and Asn358 (N6.55), were identified in interaction via hydrogen bonds with the C-terminal amide of CCK, a crucial functional group of the peptide. Mutagenesis of Tyr189 (Y4.60) and Asn358 (N6.55) as well as structure-affinity studies with modified CCK analogs validated these interactions and the involvement of both residues in the CCK binding site. These results indicate that the present molecular model is an important tool to identify direct contact points between CCK and the CCK2R and to rapidly progress in mapping of the CCK2R binding site. Moreover, comparison of the present CCK2R.CCK molecular model with that of CCK1R.CCK, which we have previously published and validated, clearly argues that the positioning of CCK in these receptors is different.

V. Craig Jordan is a pioneer in the molecular pharmacology and therapeutics of breast cancer. As a teenager, he wanted to develop drugs to treat cancer, but at the time in the 1960s, this was unfashionable. Nevertheless, he saw an opportunity and through his mentors, trained himself to re-invent a failed "morning-after pill" to become tamoxifen, the gold standard for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. It is estimated that at least a million women worldwide are alive today because of the clinical application of Jordan's laboratory research. Throughout his career, he has always looked at "the good, the bad and the ugly" of tamoxifen. He was the first to raise concerns about the possibility of tamoxifen increasing endometrial cancer. He described selective estrogen receptor modulation (SERM) and he was the first to describe both the bone protective effects and the breast chemopreventive effects of raloxifene. Raloxifene did not increase endometrial cancer and is now used to prevent breast cancer and osteoporosis.The scientific strategy he introduced of using long term therapy for treatment and prevention caused him to study acquired drug resistance to SERMs. He made the paradoxical discovery that physiological estrogen can be used to treat and to prevent breast cancer once exhaustive anti-hormone resistance develops. His philosophy for his four decades of discovery has been to use the conversation between the laboratory and the clinic to improve women's health.

Bryonolic acid (BrA) is a pentacyclic triterpene present in several plants used in African traditional medicine such as Anisophyllea dichostyla R. Br. Here we investigated the in vitro anticancer properties of BrA. We report that BrA inhibits acyl-coA: cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) activity in rat liver microsomes in a concentration-dependent manner, blocking the biosynthesis of the cholesterol fatty acid ester tumour promoter. We next demonstrated that BrA inhibits ACAT in intact cancer cells with an IC50 of 12.6 ± 2.4 µM. BrA inhibited both clonogenicity and invasiveness of several cancer cell lines, establishing that BrA displays specific anticancer properties. BrA appears to be more potent than the other pentacyclic triterpenes, betulinic acid and ursolic acid studied under similar conditions. The inhibitory effect of BrA was reversed by exogenous addition of cholesteryl oleate, showing that ACAT inhibition is responsible for the anticancer effect of BrA. This report reveals new anticancer properties for BrA.

To investigate the therapeutic potential for treating inner ear damage of two new steroidal alkaloid compounds, Dendrogenin A and Dendrogenin B, previously shown to be potent inductors of cell differentiation.Guinea pigs, unilaterally deafened by neomycin infusion, received a cochlear implant followed by immediate or a 2-week delayed treatment with Dendrogenin A, Dendrogenin B, and, as comparison artificial perilymph and glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor. After a 4-week treatment period the animals were sacrificed and the cochleae processed for morphological analysis. Electrically-evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABRs) were measured weekly throughout the experiment.Following immediate or delayed Dendrogenin treatment the electrical responsiveness was significantly maintained, in a similar extent as has been shown using neurotrophic factors. Histological analysis showed that the spiral ganglion neurons density was only slightly higher than the untreated group.Our results suggest that Dendrogenins constitute a new class of drugs with strong potential to improve cochlear implant efficacy and to treat neuropathy/synaptopathy related hearing loss. That electrical responsiveness was maintained despite a significantly reduced neural population suggests that the efficacy of cochlear implants is more related to the functional state of the spiral ganglion neurons than merely their number.

Cholesterol metabolism has been recently linked to cancer, highlighting the importance of the characterization of new metabolic pathways in the sterol series. One of these pathways is centered on cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (5,6-ECs). 5,6-ECs can either generate dendrogenin A, a tumor suppressor present in healthy mammalian tissues, or the carcinogenic cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT) and its putative metabolite 6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol (OCDO) in tumor cells. We are currently investigating the identification of the enzyme involved in OCDO biosynthesis, which would be highly facilitated by the use of commercially unavailable [(14)C]-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol and [(14)C]-6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol. In the present study we report the one-step synthesis of [(14)C]-cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol and [(14)C]-6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol by oxidation of [(14)C]-cholesterol with iodide metaperiodate (HIO4).

We have shown recently that estrogen receptor (ER) ligands share a diphenyl ethane pharmacophore with Sah 58-035 [3-[decyldimethylsilyl]-N-[2-(4-methylphenyl)-1-phenylethyl]-propanamide], a prototypical inhibitor of the acyl-cholesterolacyl-transferase (ACAT), which enabled us to establish that ER ligands were potent inhibitors of ACAT and blocked the formation of foam cells. In the present study, we have tested whether this structural similarity means that Sah 58-035 is an ER modulator. We report that Sah 58-035 bound to ERalpha and ERbeta with an IC(50) of 2.9 and 3.1 microM, respectively. Docking studies using molecular modeling of Sah 58-035 with the X-ray structure of the ER showed that Sah 58-035 fits well into the ligand binding site known for 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Despite having high three-dimensional structural similarities with the pure antiestrogen ICI 164,384 [(N-n-butyl-N-methyl-11-[3,17beta-di-hydroxyestra-1,3, 5(10)-trien-7alpha-yl]-undecanamide], we showed that Sah 58-035 is an agonist of ER for transcription and cellular proliferation. These data showed that Sah 58-035 was an estrogen receptor agonist and that the size and the chemical nature of the side chain were critical for agonist versus antagonist activity on ER. This new molecular mechanism of action for Sah 58-035 has to be taken into account in understanding better its pharmacological activities. Moreover, these data give new structural insights into the understanding of agonist versus antagonist activities of ER ligands and also for the conception of new drugs with a dual ACAT inhibition and ER modulation potential and their evaluation in different pathologies where both targets are involved, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.

To improve the targeting to tumors expressing the cholecystokinin receptor subtype 2 (CCK2R) with limited kidney uptake, we synthesized a novel cholecystokinin C-terminal tetrapeptide (CCK4)-based derivative conjugated to an original bipyridine-chelator (BPCA), 111In-BPCA-(Ahx)2-CCK4. To our knowledge this is the first CCK4-based radioligand that presents a high affinity for the CCK2R, a high and specific tumor uptake, a low renal accumulation and a very good visualization of tumors in vivo compared with an internal control, 111Indium-trans-cyclohexyldiethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid-cholecystokinin octapeptide (111In-CHX-A''-DTPA-CCK8). These properties make 111In-BPCA-(Ahx)2-CCK4, a promising candidate for imaging and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy of CCK2R positive tumors.

Smoking has toxic effects on the skin and can damage it. However, few studies have focused on the lipid profile changes of facial skin surface lipids (SSL) by passive smoking.A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on middle-aged females volunteered from Henan, China to participate in the study. A total of 20 passive smoking females and 20 non-passive smoking females were recruited for this study. The components of skin surface lipids were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Multivariate data analysis and enrichment analysis were used to investigate the differences in facial SSL between passive and non-passive smoking females.There were 1247 lipid entities identified in facial SSL between passive and non-passive smoking females. Significant differences in composition of facial SSL were observed between the two groups. After multivariate data analysis suggested, 28 significantly different lipids were identified and classified into four classes in SSL of the female cheeks. As well as 32 significantly different lipids were obtained in SSL of the female foreheads, which included three classes of lipids. Subsequent analysis revealed that the content of fatty acids (FA) in passive smoking females was significantly reduced and the content of glycerolipids (GL) and sphingolipids (SP) increased, compared with the control group.These results indicated that an increase in GLs and SPs of facial lipids and a decrease in FAs in passive smoking females. These changes in lipids might be associated with oxidative stress and interference with signaling pathways by substances in smoke. And passive smoking affected facial SSL and changed the content and metabolism of skin lipids.

Dendrogenin A (DDA), a mammalian cholesterol metabolite with tumor suppressor properties, has recently been shown to exhibit strong anti-leukemic activity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells by triggering lethal autophagy. Here, we demonstrated that DDA synergistically enhanced the toxicity of anthracyclines in AML cells but not in normal hematopoietic cells. Combination index of DDA treatment with either daunorubicin or idarubicin indicated a strong synergism in KG1a, KG1 and MV4-11 cell lines. This was confirmed in vivo using immunodeficient mice engrafted with MOLM-14 cells as well as in a panel of 20 genetically diverse AML patient samples. This effect was dependent on Liver X Receptor β, a major target of DDA. Furthermore, DDA plus idarubicin strongly increased p53BP1 expression and the number of DNA strand breaks in alkaline comet assays as compared to idarubicin alone, whereas DDA alone was non-genotoxic. Mechanistically, DDA induced JNK phosphorylation and the inhibition of AKT phosphorylation, thereby maximizing DNA damage induced by idarubicin and decreasing DNA repair. This activated autophagic cell death machinery in AML cells. Overall, this study shows that the combination of DDA and idarubicin is highly promising and supports clinical trials of dendrogenin A in AML patients.

The anti-estrogen binding site (ABS) is an apparently ubiquitous component of cells that has been shown to be intimately linked with the antiproliferative effects of certain antiestrogenic compounds, like tamoxifen, which is currently used for the treatment of breast cancer. However, the identification and in vitro study of this novel protein has been hampered to date by a lack of convenient probes that will efficiently label the molecule in nonpurified preparations. Thus, using a selective ABS ligand (4-benzylphenoxy-N-ethylmorpholine, MBPE) as starting material, we synthesized a photosensitive azido derivative, [(2-azido-4-benzyl)phenoxy]N-ethylmorpholine (azido-MBPE) that can be prepared in a tritiated form. Azido-MBPE has a high affinity for ABS (Kd = 3 nM), identical to that of tamoxifen, and covalently labels 5 and 12% of membrane-bound and detergent-solubilized ABS, respectively. Its incorporation is selectively and competitively inhibited by other ABS ligands (tamoxifen greater than nitromifen greater than hydroxytamoxifen). [3H]Azido-MBPE potently photolabels either membrane-bound or detergent-solubilized ABS as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions revealing specific photoincorporation in a protein band of Mr = 40,000. This molecular weight is approximately two times lower than what we observed previously for ABS preparations studied under nondenaturing conditions and postlabeled with [3H]tamoxifen (Mr = 80,000-110,000). In chromatofocusing experiments with photolabeled ABS, a single specifically labeled protein fraction migrating with a pI of 6.4 was found to exhibit a Mr of 40,000 when subsequently electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. These results indicate that [3H]azido-MBPE is a specific high affinity probe of ABS that will prove useful in the ultimate identification of this protein.

Activation of estrogen receptors (ERs) by estrogens triggers both ER nuclear transcriptional activity and Src/Ras/Erks pathway-dependent mitogenic activity. The present study implicates prenylated proteins in both estrogenic actions. The farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitors (FTI-277 and GGTI-298, respectively) antagonize estradiol-stimulated cell cycle progression, progesterone receptor, cyclin D1, and c-Myc expression. In contrast, the inhibitors markedly stimulate transcription from two genes containing estrogen response elements, both in the absence and presence of estradiol. The pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 inhibits by more than 85% these effects on transcription. We demonstrate that both FTI-277 and GGTI-298 increase the association of steroid receptor coactivator-1 with ER alpha and FTI-277 decreases the association of ER alpha with the histone deacetylase 1, a known transcriptional repressor. In addition, FTI-277 has no marked effect on the association of the two corepressors, nuclear receptor corepressor and silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid receptor with ER alpha, whereas GGTI-298, similar to tamoxifen, clearly increased these associations. Together, these results demonstrate that prenylated proteins play a role in estradiol stimulation of proliferation and progesterone receptor expression. However, they antagonize the ability of ER alpha to stimulate estrogen response element-dependent transcriptional activity, acting presumably through coregulator complex formation.

It has been very recently shown how naturally occurring oxyprenylated coumarins are effective modulators of melanogenesis. In this short communication we wish to generalize the potentialities as skin tanning or whitening agents of a wider panel of natural and semisynthetic aromatic compounds, including coumarins, cinnamic and benzoic acids, cinnamaldehydes, benzaldehyde, and anthraquinone derivatives. A total number of 43 compounds have been tested assaying their capacity to inhibit or stimulate melanin biosynthesis in cultured murine Melan A cells. The wider number of chemicals herein under investigation allowed to depict a detailed structure-activity relationship, as the following: (a) benzoic acid derivatives are slightly pigmenting agent, for which the effect is more pronounced in compounds with longer O-side chains; (b) independently from the type of substitution, cinnamic acids are able to increase melanin biosynthesis, while benzaldehydes are able to decrease it; (c) coumarins with a 3,3-dimethylallyl or shorter skeletons as substituents in position 7 are tanning agents, while coumarins with farnesyloxy groups are whitening ones; (d) double oxyprenylation in position 6 and 7 and 3,3-dimethylallyl or geranyl skeletons have slight depigmenting capacities, while farnesyl skeletons tend to marginally increase the tanning effect; (e) the presence of electron withdrawing groups (acetyl, COOH, and -Cl) and geranyl or farnesyl oxyprenylated chains respectively in positions 3 and 7 of the coumarin nucleus lead to a whitening effect, and finally (f) oxyprenylated anthraquinones have only a weak depigmenting capacity.

Normal cells secrete small extracellular vesicles (sEV), containing exosomes and/or ectosomes, which play a beneficial role in monitoring tissue integrity and immune response, whereas cancer cells constitutively secrete sEV, which contribute to inhibit the immune defenses and promote tumor progression and aggressiveness. Therefore, there is a great interest in reprograming tumor sEV functions toward normal ones. We hypothesized that this could be realized by inducing tumor cell re-differentiation with dendrogenin A (DDA), an endogenous oxysterol and a ligand of NR1 H/LXR (nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H). At low doses, DDA induces tumor cell differentiation, tumor growth inhibition and immune cell infiltration into tumors. At high doses, DDA induces lethal macroautophagy/autophagy in tumors by increasing LC3 expression at the mRNA and protein level, through NR1H2/LXRβ. In the present study, we showed that low doses of DDA re-differentiate tumor cells by interacting with NR1H2. This results in an increased formation of multivesicular bodies (MVB) in tumor cells and an enhanced secretion of LC3-II-associated exosome-enriched sEV, with immune and anticancer properties. This study highlights the original LC3-II-associated exosome secretory pathway driven by the DDA-NR1H2 complex and paves the way to the development of new therapeutic strategies against pro-tumor exosomes.

Oncosterone (6-oxo-cholestane-3β,5α-diol; OCDO) is an oncometabolite and a tumor promoter on estrogen receptor alpha positive breast cancer (ER(+) BC) and triple negative breast cancers (TN BC). OCDO is an oxysterol formed in three steps from cholesterol: 1) oxygen addition at the double bond to give α- or β- isomers of 5,6-epoxycholestanols (5,6-EC), 2) hydrolyses of the epoxide ring of 5,6-ECs to give cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT), and 3) oxidation of the C6 hydroxyl of CT to give OCDO. On the other hand, cholesterol can be hydroxylated by CYP27A1 at the ultimate methyl carbon of its side chain to give 27-hydroxycholesterol ((25R)-Cholest-5-ene-3beta,26-diol, 27HC), which is a tumor promoter for ER(+) BC. It is currently unknown whether OCDO and its precursors can be hydroxylated at position C27 by CYP27A1, as is the impact of such modification on the proliferation of ER(+) and TN BC cells. We investigated, herein, whether 27H-5,6-ECs ((25R)-5,6-epoxycholestan-3β,26-diol), 27H-CT ((25R)-cholestane-3β,5α,6β,26-tetrol) and 27H-OCDO ((25R)-cholestane-6-oxo-3β,5α,26-triol) exist as metabolites and can be produced by cells expressing CYP27A1. We report, for the first time, that these compounds exist as metabolites in human. We give pharmacological and genetic evidences that CYP27A1 is responsible for their production. Importantly, we found that 27-hydroxy-OCDO (27H-OCDO) inhibits BC cells proliferation and blocks OCDO and 27-HC induced proliferation in BC cells, showing that this metabolic conversion commutes the proliferative properties of OCDO into antiproliferative ones. These data suggest an unprecedented role of CYP27A1 in the control of breast carcinogenesis by inhibiting the tumor promoter activities of oncosterone and 27-HC.

The antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) is a membranous protein complex that has been shown to be intimately linked with the antiproliferative and antiretroviral effects of certain antiestrogenic compounds such as tamoxifen (Tx). Various specific ligands of AEBS derived from benzylphenoxy ethanamine and a new benzoyl structure were synthesized either by modification of the aminoether side chain or by halogen substitution at the meta-, ortho-, and para position on the benzoyl group. Using the MCF-7 cellular strain and its RTx6 variant (a clone selected for its antigrowth resistance to tamoxifen), it was shown that under high drug concentrations the cytotoxicity of the ligands was directly correlated with their affinity for AEBS. In agreement with previous observations made on triphenylethylenic ligands, modification of the basic ethanamine side chain modulated the ligand affinities. Chloride in meta increased ligand efficacy, whereas chloride substitution in ortho and para decreased it. Effects on AEBS-positive MCF-7 cells were drug concentration- and time-dependent, whereas they were unspecific on the AEBS-negative RTx6 cell line. These cytotoxic effects were confirmed in the absence of estrogen receptor on human AEBS-positive uterine cervix cell carcinoma HeLa cells, but were non-specific on rat fibroblastic AEBS-negative (low concentration) NRK cells. The cytotoxicities of these ligands are related to their affinities for AEBS.

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 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC), cholestane-3β-5α-6β-triol (triol), and a mixture of 5α-cholestane-3β,6β-diol and 5α-cholestane-3β,6α-diol (diol) to promote cell death in a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). We determined cell viability, after 24-h incubation with oxysterols. These oxysterols promoted apoptosis. At least part of the observed effects promoted by 7-KC and triol arose from an increase in the expression of the sonic hedgehog pathway mediator, smoothened. However, this increased expression was apparently independent of sonic hedgehog expression, which did not change. Moreover, these oxysterols led to increased expression of LXRα, which is involved in cellular cholesterol efflux, and the ATP-binding cassette transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1. Diols did not affect these pathways. These results suggested that the sonic hedgehog and LXRα pathways might be involved in the apoptotic process promoted by 7-KC and triol.

The goal of this study is to design new (99m)Tc-radiolabelled shortened CCK derivatives that might be suitable for the molecular imaging of cholecystokinin-2 receptors (CCK2-R), these receptors being over-expressed in a number of neuroendocrine tumors such as medullary thyroid cancer and small-cell lung cancer. For this purpose, we designed several modified CCK4 analogs bearing an ON(2)S tetradentate chelating agent at the N-terminus, the CCK4 sequence representing the minimal peptide sequence that presents nanomolar affinity and activity towards the CCK2-R. Four peptide conjugates of general formula (Trt)SN(2)OPh-(X)(n)-CCK4 (X=beta-alanine or 6-aminohexanoic acid spacers; n=0, 2, 4) and their oxorhenium peptide conjugates have been synthesized and characterized. In vitro evaluation of these compounds showed a close relationship between the nature and the length of the spacer and the corresponding binding affinity values. The most promising oxorhenium complex 5-Re exhibited potent CCK2-receptor agonist properties in promoting the production of inositol phosphate in COS-7 cells (EC(50)=5.17nM). Preliminary (99m)Tc-radiolabelling studies with peptide conjugates 3 or 5 led exclusively to the corresponding (99m)TcO-complexes 3-Tc and 5-Tc, which exhibited high resistance towards an excess of cysteine and satisfactory stabilities in human serum. To conclude, the promising in vitro characteristics of compounds 5-Re, 5-Tc illustrate the feasibility to develop stable radiolabelled shortened CCK4 derivatives with a nanomolar CCK2-R affinity.

5,6α-epoxycholesterol (5,6α-EC) and 5,6β-epoxycholesterol (5,6β-EC) are oxysterols involved in the anticancer pharmacology of the widely used antitumor drug tamoxifen. They are both metabolized into cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT) by the cholesterol-5,6-epoxide hydrolase (ChEH) enzyme, and CT is metabolized by an as-yet uncharacterized enzyme into 6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol (OCDO). A recent feasibility study showed that the 5,6-ECs may represent surrogate markers of tamoxifen activity in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy, thus there is a growing interest in their accurate quantification. These oxysterols are usually quantified by gas-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS), using an isotope dilution methodology with the corresponding deuterated oxysterol. This method is considered to be relative quantitative since all of the standards used are deuterated oxysterols, however it is not known whether the preparation of each oxysterol is affected in the same way by the extraction, pre-purification by solid phase extraction (SPE) and trimethylsilylation steps, particularly when using biological samples that contain many other reactive compounds. Thus, in this study we investigated the yield of the 5,6-ECs, CT and OCDO recovery from patient serum samples at different stages of their work-up and trimethylsilylation prior to GC/MS analysis, using [14C]-labeled analogs to follow these oxysterols at each step. We measured a 40 to 60% loss of material for the 5,6-ECs and OCDO, however we also describe the conditions that improved their recovery. Our data also show that the use of deuterated 5,6α-EC, 5,6β-EC, CT and OCDO is an absolute requirement for their accurate quantification.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) was recently identified as a mammalian cholesterol metabolite that displays tumor suppressor and neurostimulating properties at low doses. In breast tumors, DDA levels were found to be decreased compared to normal tissues, evidencing a metabolic deregulation of DDA production in cancers. DDA is an amino-oxysterol that contains three protonatable nitrogen atoms. This makes it physico-chemically different from other oxysterols and it therefore requires specific analytical methods We have previously used a two-step method for the quantification of DDA in biological samples: 1) DDA purification from a Bligh and Dyer extract by RP-HPLC using a 250×4.6mm column, followed by 2) nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation to analyze the HPLC fraction of interest. We report here the development a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of DDA and its analogues. This new method is fast (10min), resolving (peak width <4s) and has a weak carryover (<0.01%). We show that this technique efficiently separates DDA from its C17 isomer and other steroidal alkaloids from the same family establishing a proof of concept for the analysis of this family of amino-oxysterols.

Dendrogenin A (DDA) is a newly-discovered steroidal alkaloid, which remains to date the first ever found in mammals. DDA is a cholesterol metabolites that induces cancer cell differentiation and death in vitro and in vivo, and thus behave like a tumor suppressor metabolite. Preliminary studies performed on 10 patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancers (ER(+)BC) showed a strong decrease in DDA levels between normal matched tissue and tumors. This suggests that a deregulation on DDA metabolism is associated with breast carcinogenesis. To further investigate DDA metabolism on large cohorts of patients we have developed an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) procedure for the quantification of DDA in liquid and in solid tissues. This method enabled the identification of DDA analogues such as its geometric isomer C17 and dendrogenin B (C26) in human samples showing that other 5,6α-epoxycholesterol conjugation products with biogenic amines exist as endogenous metabolites . We report here the first complete method of quantification of DDA in liquid and solid tissues using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). Two different methods of extraction using either a Bligh and Dyer organic extraction or protein precipitation were successfully applied to quantify DDA in solid and liquid tissues. The protein precipitation method was the fastest. The fact that this method is automatable opens up possibilities to study DDA metabolism in large cohorts of patients.

Vitamin E refers to a functional food and dietary nutrient that plays an important role in maintaining human health and nutritional status. Vitamin E is mainly known as an antioxidant, which attacks free radicals and thus protects cells against damage and the human body against aging. Vitamin E components were proposed to prevent some chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases, by acting either as an antioxidant or through other molecular mechanisms. Importantly, vitamin E has been shown to block the pharmacological action of several drugs revealing a risk of treatment failure, which suggests that diet enrichment in vitamin E must be avoided in these cases. We will present a brief history of the discovery of vitamin E, its chemistry, and we will give an overview of its molecular properties with an emphasis on its impairment of the anticancer action of tamoxifen in breast cancers.

Vitamin E components and vitamin E oxidation products (VEOP) define the "vitaminEome". VEOP are produced through biological and chemical processes. They are found at low concentrations in vivo and may play particular biological functions linked with chemoprevention and inflammatory processes. Much data have been reported leading to more insight into VEOP. VEOP are generated through peroxy-radical generating systems and via reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as well as enzymatically by a variety of enzymes. In vivo, VEOP and their catabolites may reach the blood circulation and display physiological properties. This narrative review expands upon parent vitamin E chemistry as well as VEOP chemical concepts. The in vitro and in vivo routes by which they can be generated are exhaustively approached. Finally, we will discuss therapeutic and chemopreventive opportunities that VEOP offer with a special focus on their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory functions.

We have identified and characterized a novel, potent, nonselective tachykinin receptor antagonist, MDL 105,212A [(R)-1-[2-[3-(3,4- dichlorophenyl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-pyrrolidin-3-yl] -ethyl]- 4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxamide, hydrochloride]. The compound binds with low nanomolar affinity and species specificity to human NK-1 and NK-2 receptors as well as to guinea pig NK-3 receptors. In vitro functional assays are consistent with potent competitive antagonism of substance P-(SP) or neurokinin A-(NKA) induced [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulation in NK-1 or NK-2 monoreceptor cell lines with pA2 values of 8.19 and 8.67, respectively. Its ability to inhibit SP, NKA and capsaicin-mediated respiratory effects was examined in guinea pigs in vivo. MDL 105,212A attenuated SP-induced airway plasma protein extravasation (ED50 = 0.20 mg/kg, i.v.), NKA-induced respiratory collapse (ED50 = 5 mg/kg, i.v) and inhibited capsaicin-induced increases in pulmonary insufflation pressure (ED50 = 0.5 mg/kg, i.v.). Conscious guinea pigs responded to capsaicin aerosol exposure with dyspnea, coughs and gasps (significant respiratory events) and plasma protein extravasation. MDL 105,212A inhibited these responses in a dose-dependent manner after i.v. (ED50 = 5 mg/kg) or oral (ED50 = 50 mg/kg) administration. These data suggest that MDL 105,212A is a potent NK-1 and NK-2 receptor antagonist based on in vitro activity and its ability to inhibit SP and NKA mediated respiratory effects in vivo after exogenous administration or endogenous release and hence may be a useful therapeutic agent in neuroinflammatory disorders such as asthma in which a role for both tachykinins in the pathogenesis of the disease has been postulated.

We compared the anti-proliferative properties of 4-benzylphenoxy-N ethyl morpholine (mor-pho-BPE) and trifluopromazine (TFP) on both the human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, and its tamoxifen-resistant variant RTx6. We found that the calmodulin antagonist trifluopromazine (TFP) which bound ABS weakly, inhibited MCF7 cell growth but did not follow the relationship observed for diphenylmethane derivatives between MCF7-inhibitory potencies and their Ki. Regarding the tamoxifenresistant RTx6 cells, TFP but not morpho-BPE induced inhibition of the proliferation. Using a tritiated derivative of morpho-BPE, two distinct binding sites could be demonstrated. Indeed, a low affinity binding site was present in both cell lines whereas a high affinity binding site was mainly found in MCF7 cells although being in lower concentration (<10%) in rtx6 cells. Both tamoxifen and TFP displaced morpho-BPE from the two binding sites. The uptake and efflux of the tritiated drug were similar in the two cell lines. The drug did not appear to be metabolized. We concluded that TFP and morpho-BPE belong to distinct classes of molecules and that ABS mediates the anti-proliferative action of diphenylmethane derivatives but not the inhibitory effect of the calmodulin antagonist TFP.

The cholecystokinin (CCK) 2 receptor (CCK2R) appears as a pharmacological target for the treatment of many major diseases. To complete the mapping of the CCK2R binding site and its activation processes, we have looked for the receptor residues that interact with Trp6, an essential residue for CCK binding and activity. In our molecular model of the CCK-occupied CCK2R, the indole group of Trp6 stacked with the phenyl ring of Phe120 (ECL1) and interacted with the imidazole group of His381(H7.39) and the phenyl ring of Tyr385(H7.43). Mutagenesis and pharmacological studies validated these interactions. It is noteworthy that the mutation of Phe120 to Trp conferred constitutive activity to the CCK2R. Molecular modeling and experimental works identified the residues involved in the activation cascade initiated by Trp6 and revealed that the constitutively active F120W mutation mimics the conformational changes induced by Trp6 resulting in: 1) the exposure of Glu151(E3.49) of the conserved E/DRY motif 2) the formation of an amphiphatic pocket involving protonated Glu151(E3.49) and Leu330 (ICL3), and 3) the opening of the intracellular loops 2 and 3 and the release of Arg158 (ICL2). The R158A mutation was shown to affect inositol phosphate production, whereas the E151A and L330E mutations induced constitutive inositol phosphate production. Given that a constitutively active variant of the CCK2R has been identified in different cancers and the fact that the E151A mutant has been reported to induce tumors, these studies should help in the development of potent inverse agonists to inhibit the constitutive activation of the CCK2R.

From the MCF-7 cell line we have developed, a human mammary cancer cell subline with the same karyotype as the mother strain and named MCF-7(SF), able to grow in serum-free chemically defined medium. This cell subline was firstly used to analyze the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in estrogen-receptor-positive human breast cancer cells. FGF-2 like estradiol is able to increase cell proliferation and pS2 expression but was also found to inhibit progesterone receptor (PR) expression. The anti-estrogen tamoxifen partly counteracts the effects of FGF-2 and to discriminate between its two main mediators (estrogen receptor vs. anti-estrogen binding site, AEBS) we compare the efficacies of pure anti-estrogen (ICI 182,780) and AEBS ligand (PBPE). It appears that pure anti-estrogen counteracts cell growth and pS2 effects of FGF-2 since AEBS ligand inhibits the cell growth but has no activity on pS2 expression. Secondly, adding insulin (10(-6)M) in the culture medium induces a strong increase in cell proliferation, which then elicits an inhibitory effect of FGF-2 and addition of anti-estrogens, are less efficient to further decrease growth, since the effects of FGF-2 and anti-estrogens on pS2 expression are conserved.

In cases of immunodeficiency, a systemic infection may be revealed by atypical symptoms, particularly those involving the skin.The present case describes a 19-year-old male with X-linked hypogammaglobulinemia, or Bruton agammaglobulinemia, treated with intravenous immunoglobulin G antibodies. Over a 6-week period, the patient developed recurrent plaques in both legs, first on one and then on the other, without fever. Blood cultures were repeated and the fifth pair proved positive for Campylobacter jejuni. An abdominal scan showed appendicitis without intestinal signs. The patient was treated with azithromycin for 2 weeks, which resulted in full recovery from the skin lesions.Campylobacter bacteremia infections are severe and carry a 15% mortality rate at 30 days. The majority of affected patients present humoral immunodeficiency. The literature contains reports of 10 patients with C. jejuni-associated cellulitis, of whom 6 presented hypogammaglobulinemia. We postulate that the cutaneous manifestations were caused by septic metastases. The immunoglobulin replacement therapy mainly comprised IgG antibodies; IgA and IgM antibodies appear to play a key role in the response to C. jejuni infection, which could explain the susceptibility observed. The American guidelines recommend blood and skin cultures in patients with cellular immune defects. We suggest that this recommendation be extended to patients with humoral immunodeficiency.

AbstractWe previously demonstrated that, in addition to the estrogen receptor, the Antiestrogen Binding Site (ABS) is also a potent mediator of the antitumorous activity of the clinical drug tamoxifen. Because of reported discrepancies in the binding parameters of rat liver ABS we first attempted to improve binding study conditions. In this way buffer, protein concentration, methodology for bound/free ligand separation and phospholipidic ratio were determined. This work was used to evaluate the Stoke radius (4.4 S) and isoelectric point (pH = 6.6) of the protein in its native state. These studies constituted the obligatory transition from rat liver to pure ABS protein.

Abstract We recently reported that anti-tumor and chemopreventive drugs such as tamoxifen, raloxifene and docasahexaenoic acid are inhibitors at therapeutic doses of cholesterol epoxide hydrolase (ChEH), the enzyme that transforms cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (CE) into cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (CT) (de Medina et al, PNAS, 2010). Several lines of evidence point to the existence of an active metabolism centered on CE. We recently reported that the aminolysis of α-CE by biogenic amines under catalytic conditions generated powerful cell differentiating alkylaminooxysterols (de Medina et al, J Med Chem, 2009). Among these active molecules, Dendrogenin A (DDA) was synthesized, based on the hypothesis that it could be an endogenous metabolite formed by the reaction of α-CE with histamine at the level of the ChEH. In the present study, we report the existence of DDA in mammals at concentrations ranging from 70 to 500 pmol/g in tissues and at concentrations 70 to 500 times less in the circulation, while only trace levels of AF17, the regio-isomer of DDA, were detected. DDA was not found in a panel of cancer cells, suggesting a possible deregulation of its synthesis during oncogenesis. In addition, we showed that DDA is the most potent natural inhibitor of ChEH with an IC50 around 100 nM and it exhibits tumor differentiation and anti-tumor activity in cell and animal models. In vivo, these effects were associated with a T cell-mediated anti-tumor response. AF17 was found to be inactive in these different tests, showing a regio-selectivity of action of these compounds. In conclusion, our results shed light on a new metabolic pathway that generates the first endogenous steroidal alkaloid ever described in mammals that may have important functions in maintaining cell integrity and differentiation as well as immune system alert. The discovery of DDA reveals an unexpected cross-talk between cholesterol and histamine metabolism. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 938. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-938

Abstract Hormonotherapy with Tamoxifen (Tam) is one of the main strategies used world-wide for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. However, partial responses, tumor recurrence and acquired resistance to Tam may involve mechanisms unrelated to Estrogen Receptors (ER). Studies on non-ER related mechanisms of action of Tam led us to find that it induced breast cancer cell differentiation and death through the modulation of sterol metabolism and the stimulation of sterol oxidation (de Medina et al, Cell Death Differ, 2009), and that Tam inhibited cholesterol epoxide hydrolase (ChEH). ChEH catalyzes the trans hydration of cholesterol-5,6-epoxides (CE) and this activity is a property of the microsomal antiestrogen binding site (AEBS) (de Medina et al, PNAS, 2010). In the present study we report that Tam and AEBS ligands stimulated the oxidation of cholesterol into CE and induced the accumulation of CE in MCF-7 cells through the inhibition of ChEH at therapeutic concentrations. Since CE has been reported to be a modulator of Liver-X-Receptors (LXR), we investigated the impact of Tam and other AEBS ligands on LXR-dependent gene expression: Tam and AEBS ligands modulated the expression LXR-dependent genes in MCF-7 cells. This effect had a 24 to 48 hour lag time while the effect of direct LXR modulators was observable after 6 hours, suggesting an indirect action of AEBS ligands. The involvement of CE in the control of transcription by Tam and AEBS ligands was supported by the observation that vitamin E, which inhibited the formation and the accumulation of CE, totally blocked this transcriptional modulation. We found that knocking down LXR-α using interfering RNAs in MCF-7 cells blocked the transcriptional modulation of LXR-controlled genes induced by CE, Tam and AEBS ligands. Finally, we found that the knock down of LXR-α reproduced the vitamin E inhibition of the induction of differentiation and death of MCF-7 cells. Altogether, these data showed that LXR-α is implicated in the anticancer action of Tam and identified a new signaling pathway that could explain sensitivity and resistance to Tam. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 956. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-956

Our knowledge of the biological role of the antiestrogen binding site ABS in the antitumoral activity of tamoxifen, will be increased with the determination of its coding gene sequence. To this end our team has for some time attempted to purify this membranous protein. In this work we report the purification to homogeneity of ABS from rat liver in a six step succession. Specific photolabeling with a tritiated photoprobe, solubilization of rat liver microsomes, chromatofocusing of the labeled proteins, preparative electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, and two consecutive high performance liquid chromatography separations on C4 hydrophobic resin produced 2.5 μg of pure ABS by silver stain analysis of SDS-PAGE. The NH2–terminal residue of the protein appears to be blocked, which hinders the Edman degradation method for obtention of the whole protein sequence.