Metabolism of a novel side chain modified Δ8(14)-15-ketosterol, a potential cholesterol lowering drug: 28-hydroxylation by CYP27A1

The synthetic inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis, 3β-hydroxy-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one and 3β-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5α-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one, are of interest as potential cholesterol lowering drugs. Rapid metabolism of synthetic 15-ketosterols may lead to a decrease, or loss, of their potency to affect lipid metabolism. 3β-Hydroxy-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one is reported to be rapidly side chain oxygenated by rat liver mitochondria. In an attempt to reduce this metabolism, the novel side chain modified 15-ketosterol 3β-Hydroxy-24S-methyl-5α-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one was synthesized. We have examined the metabolism by recombinant human CYP27A1 of this novel side chain modified 3β-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5α-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one and compared the rate of metabolism with that of the previously described 3β-hydroxy-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one. Both sterols were found to be efficiently metabolized by recombinant human CYP27A1. None of the two 15-ketosterols was significantly metabolized by microsomal 7α-hydroxylation. Interestingly, CYP27A1-mediated product formation was much lower with the side chain modified 3β-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5α-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one than with the previously described 3β-hydroxy-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one. A surprising finding was that this novel side chain modified sterol was metabolized mainly in the C-28 position by CYP27A1. The data on 28-hydroxylation by human CYP27A1 provide new insights on the catalytic properties and substrate specificity of this enzyme. The finding that 3β-hydroxy-24S-methyl-5α-cholesta-8(14),22-dien-15-one with a modified side chain is metabolized at a dramatically slower rate than the previously described 15-ketosterol with unmodified side chain may be important for future development of synthetic cholesterol lowering sterols.