Allopregnanolone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Allopregnanolone
Skeletal formula of allopregnanolone
Ball-and-stick model of the allopregnanolone molecule
Names
IUPAC names
1-(3-hydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-
1H-cyclopenta[a]
phenanthren-17-yl)ethanone
Other names
ALLO; Allo; ALLOP; AlloP; 5α-Pregnan-3α-ol-20-one; 3α-Hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one; 3α,5α-Tetrahydroprogesterone; 3α,5α-THP
Identifiers
516-54-1 N
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
ChEMBL ChEMBL38856 N
ChemSpider 83760 N
PubChem 262961
Properties
C21H34O2
Molar mass 318.49 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Allopregnanolone, also known as 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one or 3α,5α-tetrahydroprogesterone (3α,5α-THP), is an endogenous inhibitory pregnane neurosteroid.[1] It is synthesized from progesterone, and is a potent positive allosteric modulator of the action of gamma-amininobutyric acid (GABA) at GABAA receptor.[1] Allopregnanolone has effects similar to those of other positive allosteric modulators of the GABA action at GABAA receptor such as the benzodiazepines, including anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant activity.[1]

Endogenously produced allopregnanolone exerts a pivotal neurophysiological role by fine-tuning of GABAA receptor and modulating the action of several positive allosteric modulators and agonists at GABAA receptor.[2] The 21-hydroxylated derivative of this compound, tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC), is an endogenous inhibitory neurosteroid with similar properties to those of allopregnanolone, and the 3β-methyl analogue of allopregnanolone, ganaxolone, is under development to treat epilepsy and other conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[1]

Biochemistry[edit]

Biosynthesis[edit]

The biosynthesis of allopregnanolone in the brain starts with the conversion of progesterone into 5α-dihydroprogesterone by 5α-reductase type I. After that, 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase converts this intermediate into allopregnanolone.[1] Allopregnanolone in the brain is produced by cortical and hippocampus pyramidal neurons and pyramidal-like neurons of the basolateral amygdala.[3]

Depression,[4] anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)[5] have been associated with a decrease of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) levels of allopregnanolone, likewise mood disorders and sexual dysfunction are frequently-seen side effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride, and are thought to be caused, in part, by interfering with the normal production of allopregnanolone.[6]

Metabolism[edit]

Allopregnanolone metabolized into allopregnanediols, conjugated, and then excreted.[citation needed]

Biological activity[edit]

Allopregnanolone acts as a highly potent positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor.[1] While allopregnanolone, like other inhibitory neurosteroids such as THDOC, positively modulates all GABAA receptor isoforms, those isoforms containing δ subunits exhibit the greatest potentiation.[1] Allopregnanolone has also been found to act as a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA-ρ receptor, though the implications of this action are unclear.[7][8] In addition to its actions on GABA receptors, allopregnanolone, like progesterone, is known to be a negative allosteric modulator of nACh receptors,[9] and also appears to act as a negative allosteric modulator of the 5-HT3 receptor.[10] Along with the other inhibitory neurosteroids, allopregnanolone appears to have little or no action at other ligand-gated ion channels, including the NMDA, AMPA, kainate, and glycine receptors.[11]

Unlike progesterone, allopregnanolone is inactive at the nuclear progesterone receptor (nPR).[11] However, allopregnanolone can be intracellularly oxidized into 5α-dihydroprogesterone, which is an agonist of the nPR, and thus/in accordance, allopregnanolone does appear to have indirect nPR-mediated progestogenic effects.[12] In addition, allopregnanolone has recently been found to be an agonist of the newly discovered membrane progesterone receptors (mPR), including mPRδ, mPRα, and mPRβ, with its activity at these receptors about a magnitude more potent than at the GABAA receptor.[13][14] The action of allopregnanolone at these receptors may be related, in part, to its neuroprotective and antigonadotropic properties.[13][15] Also like progesterone, recent evidence has shown that allopregnanolone is an activator of the pregnane X receptor.[11][16]

Similarly to many other GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators, allopregnanolone has been found to act as an inhibitor of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (L-VGCCs),[17] including α1 subtypes Cav1.2 and Cav1.3.[18] However, the threshold concentration of allopregnanolone to inhibit L-VGCCs was determined to be 3 μM (3,000 nM), which is far greater than the concentration of 5 nM that has been estimated to be naturally produced in the human brain.[18] Thus, inhibition of L-VGCCs is unlikely of any actual significance in the effects of endogenous allopregnanolone.[18] Also, allopregnanolone, along with several other neurosteroids, has been found to activate the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR1, or TGR5).[19] However, it is only able to do so at micromolar concentrations, which, similarly to the case of the L-VGCCs, are far greater than the low nanomolar concentrations of allopregnanolone estimated to be present in the brain.[19]

Biological function[edit]

Allopregnanolone possesses a wide variety of effects, including, in no particular order, antidepressant, anxiolytic, stress-reducing, rewarding,[20] prosocial,[21] antiaggressive,[22] prosexual,[21] sedative, pro-sleep,[23] cognitive and memory-impairing, analgesic,[24] anesthetic, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and neurogenic effects.[1]

Fluctuations in the levels of allopregnanolone and the other neurosteroids seem to play an important role in the pathophysiology of mood, anxiety, premenstrual syndrome, catamenial epilepsy, and various other neuropsychiatric conditions.[25][26][27]

Increased levels of allopregnanolone can produce paradoxical effects, including negative mood, anxiety, irritability, and aggression.[28][29][30] This appears to be because allopregnanolone possesses biphasic, U-shaped actions at the GABAA receptor – moderate level increases (in the range of 1.5–2 nM/L total allopregnanolone, which are approximately equivalent to luteal phase levels) inhibit the activity of the receptor, while lower and higher concentration increases stimulate it.[28][29] This seems to be a common effect of many GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators.[25][30] In accordance, acute administration of low doses of micronized progesterone (which reliably elevates allopregnanolone levels), have been found to have negative effects on mood, while higher doses have a neutral effect.[31]

Chemistry[edit]

Allopregnanolone is a pregnane (C21) steroid and is also known as 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one, or 3α,5α-tetrahydroprogesterone (3α,5α-THP). It is very closely related structurally to 5-pregnenolone (pregn-5-en-3β-ol-20-dione), progesterone (pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione), the isomers of pregnanedione (5-dihydroprogesterone; 5-pregnane-3,20-dione), the isomers of 4-pregnenolone (3-dihydroprogesterone; pregn-4-en-3-ol-20-one), and the isomers of pregnanediol (5-pregnane-3,20-diol). In addition, allopregnanolone is one of four isomers of pregnanolone (3,5-tetrahydroprogesterone), with the other three isomers being pregnanolone (5β-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one), isopregnanolone (5α-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one), and epipregnanolone (5β-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one).

Derivatives[edit]

A variety of synthetic derivatives and analogues of allopregnanolone with similar activity and effects exist, including alfadolone (3α,21-dihydroxy-5α-pregnane-11,20-dione), alfaxolone (3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnane-11,20-dione), ganaxolone (3α-hydroxy-3β-methyl-5α-pregnan-20-one), hydroxydione (21-hydroxy-5β-pregnane-3,20-dione), minaxolone (11α-(dimethylamino)-2β-ethoxy-3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one), Org 20599 (21-chloro-3α-hydroxy-2β-morpholin-4-yl-5β-pregnan-20-one), Org 21465 (2β-(2,2-dimethyl-4-morpholinyl)-3α-hydroxy-11,20-dioxo-5α-pregnan-21-yl methanesulfonate), and renanolone (3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-11,20-dione).

Research[edit]

Allopregnanolone and the other endogenous inhibitory neurosteroids have very short terminal half-lives, and for this reason, have not been pursued for clinical use themselves. Instead, synthetic analogs with improved pharmacokinetic profiles, such as ganaxolone, have been synthesized and are being investigated. However, exogenous progesterone, such as oral micronized progesterone (OMP), reliably elevates allopregnanolone levels in the body with good dose-to-serum level correlations.[32] Due to this, it has been suggested that OMP could be described as a prodrug of sorts for allopregnanolone.[32] As a result, there has been some interest in using OMP to treat catamenial epilepsy,[33] as well as other menstrual cycle-related and neurosteroid-associated conditions. In addition to OMP, oral pregnenolone has also been found to act as a prodrug of allopregnanolone,[34][35][36] though also of pregnenolone sulfate.[37]

Under the developmental code name SAGE-547, allopregnanolone is under development by SAGE Therapeutics as an intravenously administered drug for the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus, postpartum depression, and essential tremor. As of June 2016, it is in phase III clinical trials for the former indication and phase II trials for the latter two.[1][2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Reddy DS (2010). "Neurosteroids: endogenous role in the human brain and therapeutic potentials". Prog. Brain Res. 186: 113–37. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53630-3.00008-7. PMC 3139029Freely accessible. PMID 21094889. 
  2. ^ Pinna, G; Uzunova, V; Matsumoto, K; Puia, G; Mienville, J. -M; Costa, E; Guidotti, A (2000-03-01). "Brain allopregnanolone regulates the potency of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol". Neuropharmacology. 39 (3): 440–448. doi:10.1016/S0028-3908(99)00149-5. PMID 10698010. 
  3. ^ Agís-Balboa, Roberto C.; Pinna, Graziano; Zhubi, Adrian; Maloku, Ekrem; Veldic, Marin; Costa, Erminio; Guidotti, Alessandro (2006-09-26). "Characterization of brain neurons that express enzymes mediating neurosteroid biosynthesis". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103 (39): 14602–14607. doi:10.1073/pnas.0606544103. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 1600006Freely accessible. PMID 16984997. 
  4. ^ Uzunova, V.; Sheline, Y.; Davis, J. M.; Rasmusson, A.; Uzunov, D. P.; Costa, E.; Guidotti, A. (1998-03-17). "Increase in the cerebrospinal fluid content of neurosteroids in patients with unipolar major depression who are receiving fluoxetine or fluvoxamine". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 95 (6): 3239–3244. doi:10.1073/pnas.95.6.3239. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 19726Freely accessible. PMID 9501247. 
  5. ^ "Decreased Cerebrospinal Fluid Allopregnanolone Levels in Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - Biological Psychiatry". www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com. Retrieved 2016-01-26. 
  6. ^ Römer B, Gass P (December 2010). "Finasteride-induced depression: new insights into possible pathomechanisms". J Cosmet Dermatol. 9 (4): 331–2. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2010.00533.x. PMID 21122055. 
  7. ^ Morris KD, Moorefield CN, Amin J (October 1999). "Differential modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type C receptor by neuroactive steroids". Mol. Pharmacol. 56 (4): 752–9. PMID 10496958. 
  8. ^ Li W, Jin X, Covey DF, Steinbach JH (October 2007). "Neuroactive steroids and human recombinant rho1 GABAC receptors". J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 323 (1): 236–47. doi:10.1124/jpet.107.127365. PMID 17636008. 
  9. ^ Bullock AE, Clark AL, Grady SR, et al. (June 1997). "Neurosteroids modulate nicotinic receptor function in mouse striatal and thalamic synaptosomes". J. Neurochem. 68 (6): 2412–23. doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.1997.68062412.x. PMID 9166735. 
  10. ^ Wetzel CH, Hermann B, Behl C, et al. (September 1998). "Functional antagonism of gonadal steroids at the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor". Mol. Endocrinol. 12 (9): 1441–51. doi:10.1210/mend.12.9.0163. PMID 9731711. 
  11. ^ a b c Mellon SH (October 2007). "Neurosteroid regulation of central nervous system development". Pharmacol. Ther. 116 (1): 107–24. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.04.011. PMC 2386997Freely accessible. PMID 17651807. 
  12. ^ Rupprecht R, Reul JM, Trapp T, et al. (September 1993). "Progesterone receptor-mediated effects of neuroactive steroids". Neuron. 11 (3): 523–30. doi:10.1016/0896-6273(93)90156-l. PMID 8398145. 
  13. ^ a b Thomas P, Pang Y (2012). "Membrane progesterone receptors: evidence for neuroprotective, neurosteroid signaling and neuroendocrine functions in neuronal cells". Neuroendocrinology. 96 (2): 162–71. doi:10.1159/000339822. PMC 3489003Freely accessible. PMID 22687885. 
  14. ^ Pang Y, Dong J, Thomas P (January 2013). "Characterization, neurosteroid binding and brain distribution of human membrane progesterone receptors δ and {epsilon} (mPRδ and mPR{epsilon}) and mPRδ involvement in neurosteroid inhibition of apoptosis". Endocrinology. 154 (1): 283–95. doi:10.1210/en.2012-1772. PMC 3529379Freely accessible. PMID 23161870. 
  15. ^ Sleiter N, Pang Y, Park C, et al. (August 2009). "Progesterone receptor A (PRA) and PRB-independent effects of progesterone on gonadotropin-releasing hormone release". Endocrinology. 150 (8): 3833–44. doi:10.1210/en.2008-0774. PMC 2717864Freely accessible. PMID 19423765. 
  16. ^ Lamba V, Yasuda K, Lamba JK, et al. (September 2004). "PXR (NR1I2): splice variants in human tissues, including brain, and identification of neurosteroids and nicotine as PXR activators". Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 199 (3): 251–65. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2003.12.027. PMID 15364541. 
  17. ^ Hu AQ, Wang ZM, Lan DM, et al. (July 2007). "Inhibition of evoked glutamate release by neurosteroid allopregnanolone via inhibition of L-type calcium channels in rat medial prefrontal cortex". Neuropsychopharmacology. 32 (7): 1477–89. doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301261. PMID 17151597. 
  18. ^ a b c Earl DE, Tietz EI (April 2011). "Inhibition of recombinant L-type voltage-gated calcium channels by positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors". J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 337 (1): 301–11. doi:10.1124/jpet.110.178244. PMC 3063747Freely accessible. PMID 21262851. 
  19. ^ a b Keitel V, Görg B, Bidmon HJ, et al. (November 2010). "The bile acid receptor TGR5 (Gpbar-1) acts as a neurosteroid receptor in brain". Glia. 58 (15): 1794–805. doi:10.1002/glia.21049. PMID 20665558. 
  20. ^ Rougé-Pont F, Mayo W, Marinelli M, Gingras M, Le Moal M, Piazza PV (July 2002). "The neurosteroid allopregnanolone increases dopamine release and dopaminergic response to morphine in the rat nucleus accumbens". Eur. J. Neurosci. 16 (1): 169–73. doi:10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.02084.x. PMID 12153544. 
  21. ^ a b Frye CA (December 2009). "Neurosteroids' effects and mechanisms for social, cognitive, emotional, and physical functions". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 34 Suppl 1: S143–61. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.07.005. PMC 2898141Freely accessible. PMID 19656632. 
  22. ^ Pinna G, Costa E, Guidotti A (February 2005). "Changes in brain testosterone and allopregnanolone biosynthesis elicit aggressive behavior". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102 (6): 2135–40. doi:10.1073/pnas.0409643102. PMC 548579Freely accessible. PMID 15677716. 
  23. ^ Terán-Pérez G, Arana-Lechuga Y, Esqueda-León E, Santana-Miranda R, Rojas-Zamorano J, Velázquez Moctezuma J (October 2012). "Steroid hormones and sleep regulation". Mini Rev Med Chem. 12 (11): 1040–8. doi:10.2174/138955712802762167. PMID 23092405. 
  24. ^ Patte-Mensah C, Meyer L, Taleb O, Mensah-Nyagan AG (February 2014). "Potential role of allopregnanolone for a safe and effective therapy of neuropathic pain". Prog. Neurobiol. 113: 70–8. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.07.004. PMID 23948490. 
  25. ^ a b Bäckström T, Andersson A, Andreé L, et al. (December 2003). "Pathogenesis in menstrual cycle-linked CNS disorders". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1007: 42–53. doi:10.1196/annals.1286.005. PMID 14993039. 
  26. ^ Guille C, Spencer S, Cavus I, Epperson CN (July 2008). "The role of sex steroids in catamenial epilepsy and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: implications for diagnosis and treatment". Epilepsy Behav. 13 (1): 12–24. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.02.004. PMC 4112568Freely accessible. PMID 18346939. 
  27. ^ Finocchi C, Ferrari M (May 2011). "Female reproductive steroids and neuronal excitability". Neurol. Sci. 32 Suppl 1: S31–5. doi:10.1007/s10072-011-0532-5. PMID 21533709. 
  28. ^ a b Bäckström T, Haage D, Löfgren M, et al. (September 2011). "Paradoxical effects of GABA-A modulators may explain sex steroid induced negative mood symptoms in some persons". Neuroscience. 191: 46–54. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.03.061. PMID 21600269. 
  29. ^ a b Andréen L, Nyberg S, Turkmen S, van Wingen G, Fernández G, Bäckström T (September 2009). "Sex steroid induced negative mood may be explained by the paradoxical effect mediated by GABAA modulators". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 34 (8): 1121–32. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.02.003. PMID 19272715. 
  30. ^ a b Bäckström T, Bixo M, Johansson M, et al. (February 2014). "Allopregnanolone and mood disorders". Prog. Neurobiol. 113: 88–94. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.07.005. PMID 23978486. 
  31. ^ Andréen L, Sundström-Poromaa I, Bixo M, Nyberg S, Bäckström T (August 2006). "Allopregnanolone concentration and mood--a bimodal association in postmenopausal women treated with oral progesterone". Psychopharmacology (Berl.). 187 (2): 209–21. doi:10.1007/s00213-006-0417-0. PMID 16724185. 
  32. ^ a b Andréen L, Spigset O, Andersson A, Nyberg S, Bäckström T (June 2006). "Pharmacokinetics of progesterone and its metabolites allopregnanolone and pregnanolone after oral administration of low-dose progesterone". Maturitas. 54 (3): 238–44. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.11.005. PMID 16406399. 
  33. ^ Orrin Devinsky; Steven Schachter; Steven Pacia (1 January 2005). Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Epilepsy. Demos Medical Publishing. pp. 378–. ISBN 978-1-934559-08-6. 
  34. ^ Saudan C, Desmarchelier A, Sottas PE, Mangin P, Saugy M (2005). "Urinary marker of oral pregnenolone administration". Steroids. 70 (3): 179–83. doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2004.12.007. PMID 15763596. 
  35. ^ Piper T, Schlug C, Mareck U, Schänzer W (2011). "Investigations on changes in ¹³C/¹²C ratios of endogenous urinary steroids after pregnenolone administration". Drug Test Anal. 3 (5): 283–90. doi:10.1002/dta.281. PMID 21538944. 
  36. ^ Sripada RK, Marx CE, King AP, Rampton JC, Ho SS, Liberzon I (2013). "Allopregnanolone elevations following pregnenolone administration are associated with enhanced activation of emotion regulation neurocircuits". Biol. Psychiatry. 73 (11): 1045–53. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.12.008. PMC 3648625Freely accessible. PMID 23348009. 
  37. ^ Ducharme N, Banks WA, Morley JE, Robinson SM, Niehoff ML, Mattern C, Farr SA (2010). "Brain distribution and behavioral effects of progesterone and pregnenolone after intranasal or intravenous administration". Eur. J. Pharmacol. 641 (2-3): 128–34. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.05.033. PMC 3008321Freely accessible. PMID 20570588. 

Additional reading[edit]

  • Herd, MB; Belelli, D; Lambert, JJ (2007). Neurosteroid modulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors. Pharmacol. Ther. 116(1):20-34. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.03.007.