Asymmetric 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

The vitamin D endocrine system is essential for calcium and bone homeostasis. The precise mode of action and the full spectrum of activities of the vitamin D hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D], can now be better evaluated by critical analysis of mice with engineered deletion of the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Absence of a functional VDR or the key activating enzyme, 25-OHD-1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), in mice creates a bone and growth plate phenotype that mimics humans with the same congenital disease or severe vitamin D deficiency. The intestine is the key target for the VDR because high calcium intake, or selective VDR rescue in the intestine, restores a normal bone and growth plate phenotype.

The VDR is nearly ubiquitously expressed, and almost all cells respond to 1,25-(OH)2D exposure; about 3% of the mouse or human genome is regulated, directly and/or indirectly, by the vitamin D endocrine system, suggesting a more widespread function. VDR-deficient mice, but not vitamin D- or 1α-hydroxylase-deficient mice, and man develop total alopecia, indicating that the function of the VDR and its ligand is not fully overlapping. The immune system of VDR- or vitamin D-deficient mice is grossly normal but shows increased sensitivity to autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or type 1 diabetes after exposure to predisposing factors. VDR-deficient mice do not have a spontaneous increase in cancer but are more prone to oncogene- or chemocarcinogen-induced tumors. They also develop high renin hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and increased thrombogenicity. Vitamin D deficiency in humans is associated with increased prevalence of diseases, as predicted by the VDR null phenotype. Prospective vitamin D supplementation studies with multiple noncalcemic endpoints are needed to define the benefits of an optimal vitamin D status.

Vitamin D and Human Health: Lessons from Vitamin D Receptor Null Mice

I. Vitamin D Endocrine System RESEARCH directed at defining the molecular mode of action of vitamin D is currently at its apex. There is now evidence implicating the essential involvement of vitamin D metabolites in a host of cellular processes, including calcium homeostasis, immunology, cell differentiation, and regulation of gene transcription. Further, there is evidence that the hormonally active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3], may generate biological responses via both regulation of gene transcription as well as via nongenomic pathways, some of which involve opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. In addition, there are many examples of pathological disruption of the normal state in which a drug form of a vitamin D metabolite is proposed to be a (potentially) useful form of treatment, e.g. renal osteodystrophy, psoriasis, leukemia, breast cancer, and osteoporosis. B. From vitamin to steroid hormone The importance of the molecule vitamin D in the biological systems of highe...

Structure-Function Relationships in the Vitamin D Endocrine System*

Vitamin D Metabolism, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Applications

1,25-Dihydroxvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] is the hormonally active form of vitamin D. The genomic mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 action involves the direct binding of the 1,25(OH)2D3 activated vitamin D receptor/retinoic X receptor (VDR/RXR) heterodimeric complex to specific DNA sequences. Numerous VDR co-regulatory proteins have been identified, and genome-wide studies have shown that the actions of 1,25(OH)2D3 involve regulation of gene activity at a range of locations many kilobases from the transcription start site. The structure of the liganded VDR/RXR complex was recently characterized using cryoelectron microscopy, X-ray scattering, and hydrogen deuterium exchange. These recent technological advances will result in a more complete understanding of VDR coactivator interactions, thus facilitating cell and gene specific clinical applications. Although the identification of mechanisms mediating VDR-regulated transcription has been one focus of recent research in the field, other topics of fundamental importance include the identification and functional significance of proteins involved in the metabolism of vitamin D. CYP2R1 has been identified as the most important 25-hydroxylase, and a critical role for CYP24A1 in humans was noted in studies showing that inactivating mutations in CYP24A1 are a probable cause of idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia. In addition, studies using knockout and transgenic mice have provided new insight on the physiological role of vitamin D in classical target tissues as well as evidence of extraskeletal effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 including inhibition of cancer progression, effects on the cardiovascular system, and immunomodulatory effects in certain autoimmune diseases. Some of the mechanistic findings in mouse models have also been observed in humans. The identification of similar pathways in humans could lead to the development of new therapies to prevent and treat disease.

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Vitamin D: Metabolism, Molecular Mechanism of Action, and Pleiotropic Effects.

Exposure to UVB irradiation is a major risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Therefore, it is important to identify agents that can offer protection against UVB-caused damage. Photocarcinogenesis is caused largely by mutations at sites of incorrectly repaired DNA photoproducts, of which the most common are the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). In this study, we demonstrated that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] protects primary human keratinocytes against the induction of CPDs by UVB. This protection required pharmacologic doses 1,25(OH)2D3 and an incubation period of at least 8 h before irradiation. Furthermore, we provided arguments indicating that the anti-proliferative capacity of 1,25(OH)2D3 underlies its protective effect against UVB-induced DNA damage. Finally, we showed that 19-nor-14-epi-23-yne-1,25(OH)2D3 (TX 522) and 19-nor-14,20-bisepi-23-yne-1,25(OH)2D3 (TX 527), two low-calcemic analogues of 1,25(OH)2D3, were even 100 times more potent than the parent molecule in inhibiting UVB-caused DNA damage. These molecules are therefore promising candidates for the chemoprevention of UVB-induced skin cancer.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and analogues protect primary human keratinocytes against UVB-induced DNA damage.

An Efficient Preparation and the Intramolecular Cyclopropanation of a-Diazo-3-Ketophosphonates and a-Diazophosphonoacetates

Two 14-epi-analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)], 19-nor-14-epi-23-yne-1,25-(OH)2D3 (TX522) and 19-nor-14,20-bisepi-23-yne-1,25-(OH)2D3 (TX527), show enhanced antiproliferative (at least 10-fold) and markedly lower calcemic effects both in vitro and in vivo, compared with 1,25-(OH)2D3. This study aimed to evaluate their superagonistic effect at the level of interaction between the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and coactivators. Mammalian two-hybrid assays with VP16-fused VDR and GAL4-DNA-binding-domain-fused steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1), transcriptional intermediary factor 2 (Tif2), or DRIP205 showed the 14-epi-analogs to be more potent inducers of VDR-coactivator interactions than 1,25-(OH)2D3 (up to 16- and 20-fold stronger induction of VDR-SRC-1 interaction for TX522 and TX527 at 10(-10) M). Similar assays in which metabolism of 1,25-(OH)2D3 was blocked with VID400, a selective inhibitor of the 1,25-(OH)2D3-metabolizing enzyme CYP24, showed that the enhanced potency of these analogs in establishing VDR-coactivator interactions can only partially be accounted for by their increased resistance to metabolic degradation. Crystallization of TX522 complexed to the ligand binding domain of the human VDR demonstrated that the epi-configuration of C14 caused the CD ring of the ligand to shift by 0.5 angstroms, thereby bringing the C12 atom into closer contact with Val300. Moreover, C22 of TX522 made an additional contact with the CD1 atom of Ile268 because of the rigidity of the triple bond-containing side chain. The position and conformation of the activation helix H12 of VDR was strictly maintained. In conclusion, this study provides deeper insight into the docking of TX522 in the LBP and shows that stronger VDR-coactivator interactions underlie the superagonistic activity of the two 14-epi-analogs.

Superagonistic action of 14-epi-analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D explained by vitamin D receptor-coactivator interaction.

Total synthesis of polycarbocyclic sesquiterpenes: A survey of novel methods and reactions

1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D is a key calcium-regulating hormone but also displays potent differentiating and antiproliferative activities on many cell types. The structural requirements of this secosteroid hormone have been extensively studied for the A-ring and side chain, whereas relatively little is known about the requirements of the natural CD-ring structure for the vitamin D–like biological activity. We have embarked on a vast program in which derivatives were synthesized and evaluated characterized by profound structural changes in the central C/D-region. This first series of nonsteroidal analogs consists of (1R,3S)-5-((Z,2E)-4-((1S,3S)-3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-1,2,2,-trimethylcyclopentyl)-2-butenylidene)-4-methylenecyclohexane-1,3-diol (KS 176) and derivatives thereof. These analogs are characterized by the absence of normal C- and D-rings and by the presence of an unnatural five-membered ring which we call the E-ring. KS 176 with the otherwise natural side chain structure of 1α,25(OH)2D3 has between 10 and 30% of the biological activity of 1α,25(OH)2D3 when tested in vitro (prodifferentiating effects on HL-60 and MG-63; antiproliferating activity on MCF-7 and keratinocytes) but has minimal in vivo calcemic effects. Introduction of several side chain modifications created analogs with increased intrinsic noncalcemic biological properties, whereas their calcemic potency remains very low. These data demonstrate that the full CD-rings are not mandatory for the biological activity of 1α,25(OH)2D3 since they can be replaced by a new ring structure which generates an appropriate spacing of the A-seco B-rings in relation to the side chain. The biological activity of these nonsteroidal analogs probably involves a classical genomic activation since they are also active in transfection assays using an osteocalcin vitamin D responsive element coupled to a human growth hormone reporter gene.

Maurits Vandewalle

Papers

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and analogues protect primary human keratinocytes against UVB-induced DNA damage.

An Efficient Preparation and the Intramolecular Cyclopropanation of a-Diazo-3-Ketophosphonates and a-Diazophosphonoacetates

Superagonistic action of 14-epi-analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D explained by vitamin D receptor-coactivator interaction.

Total synthesis of polycarbocyclic sesquiterpenes: A survey of novel methods and reactions

The Biological Activity of Nonsteroidal Vitamin D Hormone Analogs Lacking Both the C- and D-Rings