Syntheses of immunomodulating androstanes and stigmastanes: Comparison of their TNF-α inhibitory activity

In a previous work our group showed that some synthetic stigmastanes may play a role in immune-mediated inflammation. In this paper we report the syntheses of a series of new steroidal compounds derived from dehydroepiandrosterone and stigmasterol, and the evaluation of their in vitro inhibitory activity of the TNF-α production by macrophages. A preliminary qualitative structure–activity relationship was established.

Several synthetic stigmastanes and androstane were able to inhibit the TNF-β production. Some of them were shown to be more potent inhibitors than DHEA.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide