Identification of a benzamide derivative that inhibits stress-induced adrenal corticosteroid synthesis.
Elevated serum glucocorticoid levels contribute to the progression of many diseases, including depression, Alzheimer's disease, hypertension, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Here we show that the benzamide derivative N-[2-(4-cyclopropanecarbonyl-3-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-1-(tert-butyl-1H-indol-3-yl-methyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-4-nitrobenzamide (SP-10) inhibits dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP)-induced corticosteroid synthesis in a dose-dependent manner in Y-1 adrenal cortical mouse tumor cells, without affecting basal steroid synthesis and reduced stress-induced corticosterone increases in rats without affecting the physiological levels of the steroid in blood. SP-10 did not affect cholesterol transport and metabolism by the mitochondria but was unexpectedly found to increase 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A, low density lipoprotein receptor, and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) expression. However, it also markedly reduced dbcAMP-induced NBD-cholesterol uptake, suggesting that this is a compensatory mechanism aimed at maintaining cholesterol levels. SP-10 also induced a redistribution of filamentous (F-) and monomeric (G-) actin, leading to decreased actin levels in the submembrane cytoskeleton suggesting that SP-10-induced changes in actin distribution might prevent the formation of microvilli-cellular structures required for SRBI-mediated cholesterol uptake in adrenal cells.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA. jing@creatvmicrotech.com
Jing
J
Xu
Laurent
L
Lecanu
Matthew
M
Tan
Janet
J
Greeson
Vassilios
V
Papadopoulos
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D000199:Actins; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001549:Benzamides; C463819:Bzrp protein, mouse; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018079:Receptors, GABA; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D003994:Bucladesine; C037689:benzamide; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D002784:Cholesterol; D003345:Corticosterone