TY - JOUR
T1 - Cyclodextrins sequester neuroactive steroids and differentiate mechanisms that rate limit steroid actions
AU - Shu, H. J.
AU - Zeng, C. M.
AU - Wang, C.
AU - Covey, D. F.
AU - Zorumski, C. F.
AU - Mennerick, S.
PY - 2007/1
Y1 - 2007/1
N2 - Background and purpose:Neuroactive steroids are potent modulators of GABA A receptors and are thus of interest for their sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and anaesthetic properties. Cyclodextrins may be useful tools to manipulate neuroactive effects of steroids on GABA A receptors because cyclodextrins form inclusion complexes with at least some steroids that are active at the GABA A receptor, such as (3α,5α)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α5αP, allopregnanolone).Experimental approach:To assess the versatility of cyclodextrins as steroid modulators, we investigated interactions between γ-cyclodextrin and neuroactive steroids of different structural classes.Key results:Both a bioassay based on electrophysiological assessment of GABA A receptor function and optical measurements of cellular accumulation of a fluorescent steroid analogue suggest that γ-cyclodextrin sequesters steroids rather than directly influencing GABA A receptor function. Neither a 5β-reduced A/B ring fusion nor a sulphate group at carbon 3 affected the presumed inclusion complex formation between steroid and γ-cyclodextrin. Apparent dissociation constants for interactions between natural steroids and γ-cyclodexrin ranged from 10-60 μM. Although γ-cyclodextrin accommodates a range of natural and synthetic steroids, C 11 substitutions reduced inclusion complex formation. Using γ-cyclodextrin to remove steroid not directly bound to GABA A receptors, we found that cellular retention of receptor-unbound steroid rate limits potentiation by 3α- hydroxysteroids but not inhibition by sulphated steroids.Conclusions and implications:We conclude that γ-cyclodextrins can be useful, albeit non-specific, tools for terminating the actions of multiple classes of naturally occurring neuroactive steroids.
AB - Background and purpose:Neuroactive steroids are potent modulators of GABA A receptors and are thus of interest for their sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and anaesthetic properties. Cyclodextrins may be useful tools to manipulate neuroactive effects of steroids on GABA A receptors because cyclodextrins form inclusion complexes with at least some steroids that are active at the GABA A receptor, such as (3α,5α)-3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α5αP, allopregnanolone).Experimental approach:To assess the versatility of cyclodextrins as steroid modulators, we investigated interactions between γ-cyclodextrin and neuroactive steroids of different structural classes.Key results:Both a bioassay based on electrophysiological assessment of GABA A receptor function and optical measurements of cellular accumulation of a fluorescent steroid analogue suggest that γ-cyclodextrin sequesters steroids rather than directly influencing GABA A receptor function. Neither a 5β-reduced A/B ring fusion nor a sulphate group at carbon 3 affected the presumed inclusion complex formation between steroid and γ-cyclodextrin. Apparent dissociation constants for interactions between natural steroids and γ-cyclodexrin ranged from 10-60 μM. Although γ-cyclodextrin accommodates a range of natural and synthetic steroids, C 11 substitutions reduced inclusion complex formation. Using γ-cyclodextrin to remove steroid not directly bound to GABA A receptors, we found that cellular retention of receptor-unbound steroid rate limits potentiation by 3α- hydroxysteroids but not inhibition by sulphated steroids.Conclusions and implications:We conclude that γ-cyclodextrins can be useful, albeit non-specific, tools for terminating the actions of multiple classes of naturally occurring neuroactive steroids.
KW - GABA receptors
KW - Inhibitory postsynaptic currents
KW - Neurosteroid
KW - γ-aminobutyric acid
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33846465862&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706973
DO - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706973
M3 - Article
C2 - 17160009
AN - SCOPUS:33846465862
SN - 0007-1188
VL - 150
SP - 164
EP - 175
JO - British Journal of Pharmacology
JF - British Journal of Pharmacology
IS - 2
ER -