title: The neuro-steroid, 3beta androstene 17alpha diol exhibits potent cytotoxic effects on human malignant glioma and lymphoma cells through different programmed cell death pathways.
abstract: The neuro-steroids 3beta-androstene-17alpha-diol (17alpha-AED), 3beta-androstene-17beta-diol (17beta-AED), 3beta-androstene-7alpha,-17beta-triol (7alpha-AET) and 3beta-androstene-7beta,-17beta-triol (7beta-AET) are metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone and are produced in neuro-ectodermal tissue. Both epimers of androstenediols (17alpha-AED and 17beta-AED) and androstenetriols (7alpha-AET and 7beta-AET) have markedly different biological functions of their chemical analogue. We investigated the cytotoxic activity of these neuro-steroids on human T98G and U251MG glioblastoma and U937 lymphoma cells. Proliferation studies showed that 17alpha-AED is the most potent inhibitor, with an IC(50) approximately 15 microM. For T98G glioma, 90% inhibition was achieved with 25 muM of 17alpha-AED. Other neuro-steroids tested only marginally suppressed cell proliferation. Reduced cell adherence and viability could be detected after 18 h of 17alpha-AED exposure. Treatment with 17alpha-AED induced a significant level of apoptosis in U937 lymphoma cells, but not in the glioma cells. Cytopathology of 17alpha-AED-treated T98G cells revealed the presence of multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles. Acridine orange staining demonstrated the formation of acidic vesicular organelles in 17alpha-AED-treated T98G and U251MG, which was inhibited by bafilomycin A1. These findings indicate that 17alpha-AED bears the most potent cytotoxic activity of the neuro-steroids tested, and the effectiveness may depend on the number of hydroxyls and their position on the androstene molecule. These cytotoxic effects may utilize a non-apoptotic pathway in malignant glioma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery and the Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, PO Box 980631, Richmond, VA 23298-0631, USA. mgraf@hsc.vcu.edu
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Loria
mesh_terms: D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D053148:Caspase 3