Studies on an antibody-coated tube method of aldosterone

We studied on the basic performance of a non-extraction coated tube RIA kit, DPC Aldosterone kit (Nippon DPC Corporation). 1. The average binding CVs of the calibrators (25 to 1,200 pg/ml) were stable in a range from 1.4 to 1.9%. 2. The minimum sensitivity was 17 pg/ml from 2SD method of 0 calibrator. 3. The intra-assay reproducibility test showed an average CV as 9.0%, and the inter-assay test showed as 8.8%. 4. The recovery ratios of a recovery test were 85.4 to 121.6%. 5. The correlation test with another maker's kit showed a correlation curve as y = 0.970 x + 19.68 and a correlation coefficiency as r = 0.970. 6. The normal range, the correlation between fasting recumbency and daytime sitting, and the correlation between walking and resting, showed similar results as former reports.     

Studies on aldosterone RIA kit using the two antibody method

Two antibody method of aldosterone RIA kit was investigated. This kit was measured directly without extracting the aldosterone. On fundamental studies, stability of standard curve, reproductivity, recovery test and dilution test were obtained good results. On clinical studies, the diurnal variation of serum aldosterone concentration in normal child and adult was correlated well to that of concentration of cortisol and ACTH. The concentration of three hormones was the highest in the early morning and it was the lowest in midnight.     

Carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectra of aldosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxyprogesterone

The ¹³C NMR spectra of aldosterone in various solvents show the presence of only the tautomeric forms with hemi-acetal (11–18) and hemi-ketal (18–20) bridges. Solutions of 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone (6) and of 18-hydroxyprogesterone in CDCl₃ contain mainly the hemi-ketal (18–20) tautomer. Solutions of 6 in more polar solvents also contain—although to a lesser extent—a second form which may be a dimer or, more probably, a form representing two retamers with appreciable populations at the 21-CH₂OH group.     

Synthesis of 11β-hydroxy-18-ethynylprogesterone: an inhibitor of aldosterone biosynthesis

The title compound was prepared by thermolysis of a C20 cyanohydrin peracetate to yield a C18 nitrile which was subsequently converted to an acetylene.     

Determination of an aldosterone antagonist in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography using automated column switching

An automated high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of an aldosterone antagonist (I) is described using column switching for direct injection of urine samples. After dilution with buffered internal standard solution, the sample was injected onto a clean-up column (17 X 4.6 mm I.D.), dry-packed with C18 reversed-phase material (particle size 30 micron). Polar urine components were removed by flushing the clean-up column with water. Retained substances, including I and the internal standard, were desorbed by backflush elution onto a 5-micron ODS-silica analytical column (125 X 4 mm I.D.), separated with water-methanol-tetrahydrofuran, and detected at 295 nm. After backflushing the analytical column and re-equilibrating the clean-up column, the system was ready for the next injection. The limit of quantification was ca. 100 ng/ml, using a 100-microliter specimen of diluted urine. The mean inter-assay precision of the method up to 25.6 micrograms/ml was 2%. Practicability and accuracy of the new method were demonstrated by the application to excretion studies performed with human volunteers.     

Development of sensitive derivatization method for aldosterone in liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry of corticosteroids

A highly sensitive quantification method of aldosterone by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was investigated in a positive mode using recently developed picolinyl derivatization. Aldosterone was smoothly and quantitatively converted to the ethyl ether-picolinyl derivative by treatment with HCl-ethanol followed by the esterification with picolinic acid in the presence of 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride and 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The positive ion-ESI mass spectrum of the ethyl ether-picolinyl derivative was characterized by an appearance of protonated molecule ([M+H](+)) as a base peak. The ethyl ether-picolinyl derivatization gave a successful result in a separation of aldosterone from corticosterone, dehydrocorticosterone and cortexolone, and also provided an approximately 10-fold higher ESI response in the positive-LC-ESI-MS/MS (selected reaction monitoring; SRM) when compared to that of underivatized molecule (negative mode). The limit of quantification of aldosterone by SRM using ethyl ether-picolinyl derivatization (m/z 494-->m/z 448) was 1 pg/0.2 ml serum with accuracy and precision of 92.6% and 5.6%, respectively.     

Preparation and structural elucidation of the picolinyl ester of aldosterone for liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Treatment of aldosterone with 35% HCl in EtOH or in MeOH followed by the picolinyl derivatization gave the picolinyl derivative of aldosterone-ethyl ether, 8, or methyl ether, 9, as a single and well-shaped liquid chromatographic peak. Picolinyl derivatization of aldosterone produced 21-picolinyl derivative of 18,20-anhydro-hemiacetal derivatives, 6, with poor chromatographic peak with wide half-width. Further conversion of 6 to 8 required long reaction time (>4 h). Structure of each picolinyl or alkyl ether-picolinyl derivative, was carefully elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron ionization mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Enhancement of sensitivity (approximately 10-fold) in positive-LC-ESI-MS/MS of aldosterone was confirmed by the use of the alkyl ether-picolinyl derivatization when compared to the underivatized molecule.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of pyridyl substituted benzoxazepinones as potent and selective inhibitors of aldosterone synthase

Exorbitant aldosterone is closely associated with various severe diseases, including congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease. As aldosterone synthase is the pivotal enzyme in aldosterone biosynthesis, its inhibition constitutes a promising treatment for these diseases. Via a structure-based approach, a series of pyridyl substituted 3,4-dihydrobenzo[f][1,4]oxazepin-5(2H)-ones were designed as inhibitors of aldosterone synthase. Six compounds (5j, 5l, 5m 5w, 5x and 5y) distinguished themselves with potent inhibition (IC₅₀ <100 nmol/L) and high selectivity over homogenous 11β-hydroxylase. As the most promising compound, 5x exhibited an IC₅₀ of 12 nmol/L and an excellent selectivity factor (SF) of 157, which are both superior to those of the reference fadrazole (IC₅₀ = 21 nmol/L, SF = 7). Importantly, 5x showed no inhibition against steroidogenic CYP17, CYP19 and a panel of hepatic CYP enzymes indicating an outstanding safety profile. As it manifested satisfactory pharmacokinetic properties in rats, compound 5x was considered as a drug candidate for further development.     

Application of a ligand-based theoretical approach to derive conversion paths and ligand conformations in CYP11B2-mediated aldosterone formation

The biosynthesis of the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone involves a multistep hydroxylation of 11-deoxycorticosterone at the 11- and 18-positions, resulting in the formation of corticosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone, the final precursor of aldosterone. Two members of the cytochrome P450 11B family, CYP11B1 and CYP11B2, are known to catalyze these 11- and 18-hydroxylations, however, only CYP11B2 can oxidize 18-hydroxycorticosterone to aldosterone. It is unknown what sequence of hydroxylations leads to the formation of 18-hydroxycorticosterone. In this study we have investigated which of the possible conversion paths towards formation of 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone are most likely from the ligand perspective. Therefore, we combined quantum mechanical investigations on the steroid conformations of 11-deoxycorticosterone and its ensuing reaction intermediates with Fukui indices calculations to predict the reactivity of their carbon atoms for an attack by the iron-oxygen species. Both F(-) and F(0) were calculated to account for different mechanisms of substrate conversion. We show which particular initial conformations of 11-deoxycorticosterone and which conversion paths are likely to result in the successful synthesis of aldosterone, and thereby may be representative for the mechanism of aldosterone biosynthesis by CYP11B2. Moreover, we found that the most likely path for aldosterone synthesis coincides with the substrate conformation proposed in an earlier publication. To summarize, we show that on a theoretical and strictly ligand-directed basis only a limited number of reaction paths in the conversion of 11-deoxycorticosterone to aldosterone is possible. Despite its theoretical nature, this knowledge may help to understand the catalytic function of CYP11B1 and CYP11B2.