The antiproliferative activity of all-trans-retinoic acid catabolites and isomers is differentially modulated by liarozole-fumarate in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

The clinical use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in the treatment of cancer is significantly hampered by the prompt emergence of resistance, believed to be caused by increased ATRA catabolism. Inhibitors of ATRA catabolism may therefore prove valuable for cancer therapy. Liarozole-fumarate is an anti-tumour drug that inhibits the cytochrome P450-dependent catabolism of ATRA. ATRA, but also its naturally occurring catabolites, 4-oxo-ATRA and 5,6-epoxy-ATRA, as well as its stereoisomers, 9-cis-RA and 13-cis-RA, show significant antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. To further elucidate its mechanism of action, we investigated whether liarozole-fumarate was able to enhance the antiproliferative activity of ATRA catabolites and isomers. Liarozole-fumarate alone up to a concentration of 10(-6) M had no effect on MCF-7 cell proliferation. However, in combination with ATRA or the ATRA catabolites, liarozole-fumarate (10(-6) M) significantly enhanced their antiproliferative activity. On the contrary, liarozole-fumarate (10(-6) M) was not able to potentiate the antiproliferative activity of the ATRA stereoisomers, most probably because of the absence of cytochrome P450-dependent catabolism. Together, these findings show that liarozole-fumarate acts as a versatile inhibitor of retinoid catabolism in that it not only blocks the breakdown of ATRA, but also inhibits the catabolic pathway of 4-oxo-ATRA and 5,6-epoxy-ATRA, thereby enhancing their antiproliferative activity.

All-trans-retinoic acid metabolites significantly inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in vitro.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is well known to inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells. Much less is known about the antiproliferative activity of the naturally occurring metabolites and isomers of ATRA. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative activity of ATRA, its physiological catabolites 4-oxo-ATRA and 5,6-epoxy-ATRA and isomers 9-cis-RA and 13-cis-RA in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. MCF-7 cells were grown in steroid- and retinoid-free medium supplemented with growth factors. Under these culture conditions, ATRA and its naturally occurring catabolites and isomers showed significant antiproliferative activity in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (10[-11] M to 10[-6] M). The antiproliferative activity of ATRA catabolites and isomers was equal to that of the parent compound ATRA at concentrations of 10(-8) M and 10(-7) M. Only at 10(-6) M were the catabolites and the stereoisomer 13-cis-RA less potent. The stereoisomer 9-cis-RA was as potent as ATRA at all concentrations tested (10[-11] M to 10[-6] M). In addition, we show that the catabolites and isomers were formed from ATRA to only a limited extent. Together, our findings suggest that in spite of their high antiproliferative activity the catabolites and isomers of ATRA cannot be responsible for the observed growth inhibition induced by ATRA.

Induction of the oxidative catabolism of retinoid acid in MCF-7 cells.

Cytochrome P450-dependent oxidation is a pathway for all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) catabolism. Induction of this catabolic pathway was studied in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells showed low constitutive all-trans-RA catabolism. Concentration-dependent induction was obtained by preincubation of the cells with all-trans-RA (10(-9) to 10(-6) M). Onset of induction was fast, being detectable within 60 min, with maximal induction (45-fold) obtained after 16 h. Enzymatic characterization of induced all-trans-RA catabolism showed an estimated Km value (Michaelis-Menten constant) of 0.33 microM and a Vmax value (maximal velocity of an enzyme-catalysed reaction) of 54.5 fmol polar all-trans-RA metabolites 10(6) cells(-1) h(-1). These kinetic parameters represent the overall formation of polar metabolites from all-trans-RA. Induction of all-trans-RA catabolism was also obtained with other retinoids, CH55 >> 13-cis-RA = all-trans-RA > 9-cis-RA > 4-keto-all-trans-RA > 4-keto-13-cis-RA > retinol. The potency of the retinoids to induce all-trans-RA catabolism was correlated to their retinoic acid receptor affinity (Crettaz et al, 1990; Repa et al, 1990; Sani et al, 1990). Induction of all-trans-RA catabolism was inhibited by actinomycin D. Furthermore, all-trans-RA did not increase cytosolic retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) mRNA levels. These data suggest that induction of all-trans-RA catabolism in MCF-7 cells is a retinoic acid receptor-mediated gene transcriptional event. Induced all-trans-RA catabolism was inhibited by various retinoids with decreasing potency in the order: all-trans-RA > 4-keto-all-trans-RA > 13-cis-RA > 9-cis-RA > 4-keto-13-cis-RA > retinol > CH55. The antitumoral compound liarozole-fumarate inhibited all-trans-RA catabolism with a potency similar to that of all-trans-RA.

Analysis of the oxidative catabolism of retinoic acid in rat Dunning R3327G prostate tumors.

We studied the enzymatic characteristics of the oxidative catabolism of retinoic acid (RA) and its inhibition by liarozole-fumarate in homogenates of rat Dunning R3327G prostate tumors. Homogenates of rat liver were used as reference material. Both tumor and liver homogenates were able to catabolize retinoic acid. HPLC analysis revealed only very polar metabolites in tumors, while in the liver both metabolites with intermediate polarity and more polar metabolites were found. Kinetic analysis of retinoic acid catabolism showed a K(m) of 1.7 +/- 0.7 microM and a Vmax of 4.2 +/- 4.4 pmol polar RA metabolites/mg protein/hr for Dunning G tumor homogenates. In liver homogenates a K(m) value of 4.3 +/- 0.5 microM and a Vmax value of 290 +/- 120 pmol polar RA metabolites/mg protein/hr were obtained. Liarozole-fumarate inhibited retinoic acid catabolism in Dunning tumors and liver with IC50 values of 0.26 +/- 0.16 microM and 0.14 +/- 0.05, respectively. The results suggest that rat Dunning R3327G tumors are able to metabolize retinoic acid in a manner similar to that found in rat liver but with a lower metabolizing capacity.

Aromatase inhibition by R 83 842, the dextro isomer of R 76 713, in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma grown in ovariectomized nude mice.

The effects of repeated (5 days) dosing with the non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor R 83 842 (the dextro isomer of R 76 713) on tumor aromatase and uterus weight in ovariectomized nude mice bearing JEG-3 tumors were examined. In animals bearing an androstenedione implant the presence of a JEG-3 tumor significantly increased uterus weight, proving that tumor aromatase indeed converted androgens to estrogens. Oral administration of R 76 713 (10 mg/kg) for 5 days reduced the increase in uterus weight by 84% in tumor bearing mice revealing true in vivo aromatase inhibition by R 76 713. Experiments performed in the absence of exogenously added androgens gave similar results. Uterus weights in tumor bearing mice were significantly higher than in control mice. Oral administration of R 83 842 (5 mg/kg) for 5 days reduced uterus weight in the tumor bearing animals. Ex vivo aromatase measurements performed in JEG-3 tumors from these animals showed an aromatase inhibition of 93.9% in treated mice as compared to untreated mice. Five days oral treatment with R 83 842 dose-dependently lowered both aromatase activity and uterus weight. Doses of 5 and 0.5 mg/kg inhibited tumor aromatase by 94.1 and 74.7%, respectively, and reduced uterus weight. After a dose of 0.05 mg/kg aromatase activity and uterus weight were similar to those in the control group.

Aromatase in the human choriocarcinoma JEG-3: inhibition by R 76 713 in cultured cells and in tumors grown in nude mice.

The aromatase enzyme and its inhibition by R 76 713 were characterized in the JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line in culture and in JEG-3 tumors grown in nude mice. Optimal cell culture parameters and enzyme reaction conditions for the determination of aromatase activity were established. Under these conditions, in vitro JEG-3 aromatase was inhibited by R 76 713 with IC50-values of 7.6 +/- 0.5 nM and 2.7 +/- 1.1 nM using 500 nM of androstenedione and testosterone as substrate respectively. The Km-value of the aromatase enzyme with androstenedione as substrate was 62 +/- 19 nM; with testosterone as substrate, a value of 166 +/- 27 nM was found. In the presence of increasing concentrations of R 76 713, the Km-values increased while the Vmax remained unchanged. Using androstenedione and testosterone as substrate Lineweaver-Burk analysis of the data showed Ki-values for R 76 713 of 0.43 +/- 0.06 nM and 0.47 +/- 0.39 nM respectively. R 76 713 appeared to competitively inhibit the JEG-3 aromatase. Aromatase could easily be measured in homogenates of JEG-3 tumors grown in nude mice and showed Km-values similar to those found for JEG-3 cells in vitro. IC50-values for inhibition of tumor aromatase by R 76 713 were also similar to those found in cultured cells. Tumor aromatase measured ex vivo, 2 h after a single oral administration of R 76 713 was dose-dependently inhibited. An ED50-value of 0.05 mg/kg was calculated. The JEG-3 choriocarcinoma proved to be a useful aromatase model enabling the comparative study of aromatase inhibition in vitro and in vivo.

Comparative effects of the aromatase inhibitor R76713 and of its enantiomers R83839 and R83842 on steroid biosynthesis in vitro and in vivo.

R76713 (6-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-1H- benzotriazole) is a selective, non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor containing an asymmetric carbon atom. In this paper, we compare the effects of R76713 (racemate) with its enantiomers R83839 (the levo-isomer) and R83842 (the dextro-isomer) on steroid biosynthesis in rat cells in vitro and in the rat in vivo. In rat granulosa cells, aromatase activity was inhibited by 50% at concentrations of 0.93 nM of R76713, 240 nM of R83839 and 0.44 nM of R83842, revealing a 545-fold difference in activity between both enantiomers. Up to 1 microM, none of the compounds had any effect on steroid production in primary cultures of rat testicular cells. Above this concentration all three compounds showed a similar slight inhibition of androgen synthesis with a concomitant increase in the precursor progestins, indicative for some effect on the 17-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase enzyme. In rat adrenal cells none of the compounds showed any effect on corticosterone synthesis. At concentrations above 1 microM there was an increase in the levels of 11-deoxycorticosterone pointing towards an inhibition of the 11-hydroxylase enzyme. This increase was more pronounced for R83839 than for R76713 and R83842. In vivo, in PMSG-primed rats, R83842 reduced plasma estradiol by 50%. 2 h after oral administration of 0.0034 mg/kg, whereas 0.011 mg/kg of R76713 and 0.25 mg/kg of R83839 were needed to obtain the same result. Oral administration of up to 20 mg/kg of the compounds did not significantly affect plasma levels of adrenal steroids in LHRH/ACTH-injected rats. Plasma testosterone was lowered at 10 and 20 mg/kg of R83842 and at the highest dose (20 mg/kg) of R76713 and R83839. In conclusion, the present study shows that the aromatase inhibitory activity of R76713 resides almost exclusively in its dextro-isomer R83842. R83842 exhibits a specificity for aromatase as compared to other enzymes involved in steroid biosynthesis of at least a 1000-fold in vitro as well as in vivo. This confirms the extreme selectivity previously found for the racemate.

Aromatase inhibition by R 76 713: a kinetic analysis in rat ovarian homogenates.

Reaction kinetics of the aromatase enzyme and of a new nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, R 76 713 (6-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-methyl]-1-methyl-1H- benzotriazole), were studied in ovarian homogenates obtained from pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG)-injected female Wistar rats. The Km (Michaelis constant) of the aromatase enzyme with androstenedione as the substrate was 47 +/- 13 nM; for testosterone as the substrate, a value of 159 +/- 10 nM was found. In the presence of increasing concentrations of R 76 713, the Km increased while the Vmax (maximal velocity of enzyme-catalyzed reaction) remained unchanged. Using androstenedione and testosterone as the substrate, Lineweaver-Burk analysis of the data showed a Ki (dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex) for R 76 713 of 0.7 +/- 0.3 nM and 1.6 +/- 0.4 nM, respectively. R 76 713 appeared to competitively inhibit the rat ovarian aromatase.

Reconstitution of solubilized serotonin-S2 receptors into phospholipid vesicles.

Serotonin-S2 receptors from rat frontal cortex were solubilized using CHAPS/sodium chloride. Reconstitution of the solubilized receptors was achieved by dilution of the soluble preparation, followed by centrifugation to remove the detergent. The receptors were truly reconstituted as judged by sedimentation, increased thermostability and electron microscopy. The reconstituted preparation showed high-affinity binding of [3H]7-aminoketanserin. The binding characteristics resembled those obtained for membrane-bound receptors.