Urolithin A and B are gut metabolites of ellagic acid and ellagitannins associated with many beneficial effects. Evidence in vitro pointed to their potential as estrogenic modulators. However, both molecular mechanisms and biological targets involved in such activity are still poorly characterized, preventing a comprehensive understanding of their bioactivity in living organisms. This study aimed at rationally identifying novel biological targets underlying the estrogenic-modulatory activity of urolithins.
The work relies on an in silico/in vitro target fishing study coupling molecular modeling with biochemical and cell-based assays. Estrogen sulfotransferase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are identified as potentially subject to inhibition by the investigated urolithins. The inhibition of the latter undergoes experimental confirmation either in a cell-free or cell-based assay, validating computational outcomes.
The work describes target fishing as an effective tool to identify unexpected targets of food bioactives detailing the interaction at a molecular level. Specifically, it described, for the first time, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as a target of urolithins and highlighted the need of further investigations to widen the understanding of urolithins as estrogen modulators in living organisms.

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Although higher circulating levels of oestrogen are related to postmenopausal breast cancer risk, limited information is available regarding effects of diet on endogenous oestrogen. Thus, we examined associations between macronutrient intakes and serum oestrogen with consideration of polymorphisms in oestrogen-metabolising genes. In this cross-sectional study, 784 naturally menopaused Japanese women aged 47-69 years were selected from participants of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. We documented dietary intakes, measured serum concentrations of oestrone (E1) and oestradiol (E2) and genotyped polymorphisms in oestrogen-metabolising CYP19A1 (rs4441215 and rs936306) and HSD17B1 (rs605059) genes. Trends and interactions were examined using linear regression models. In addition, we calculated the ratios of the oestrogen concentrations of the second to the highest quartiles (Q2-Q4) of dietary intake to those of the lowest quartiles (Q1). After adjustment for potential confounders, E2 was significantly associated with intake of carbohydrate and noodles; ratios of Q4 v. Q1 were 1·15 (95 % CI 1·04, 1·28) and 1·15 (95 % CI 1·04, 1·26), respectively. In contrast, E2 levels were inversely associated with intake of total energy, SFA and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (n-3 HUFA); ratios of Q4 v. Q1 were 0·90 (95 % CI 0·82, 0·99), 0·89 (95 % CI 0·81, 0·98) and 0·91 (95 % CI 0·83, 1·00), respectively. In stratified analysis by polymorphisms, the rs605059 genotype of HSD17B1 significantly modified associations of E2 with intake of n-3 HUFA and fish; the associations were limited to those with the CC genotype. Macronutrient intakes were associated with serum E2 level, and these associations may be modified by HSD17B1 polymorphism in postmenopausal women.

Evolutionary theories of aging predict an antagonistic relationship between fertility and life span in humans, but the genetic basis of this phenomenon is not clear. The variation of three genes in steroid hormone metabolism--CYP17 (rs743572), HSD17B1 (rs 605059), and COMT (rs4680)--was examined to elucidate the genetic basis of the relationship between fertility and life span. A sample of 277 individuals (mean age, 82.9 years) was recruited in 2000. On the basis of mortality data collected in 2009, the sample was divided into two groups of subjects surviving to over 90 years (long-lived) or not (controls). Fertility data (number of children) were collected in the same sample. The HSD17B1 AA genotype was found to be significantly associated (p = 0.0085) with longevity only in the females (estimated odds ratio = 3.77). Because the HSD17B1 AA genotype was also associated with a higher number of children (5.3 ± 2.1) than the other genotypes (p = 0.006), we may infer that HSD17B1 genotypes could exert a positive pleiotropic action on longevity and fertility. CYP17 and COMT gene variation did not influence either life span or fertility. We then searched the literature for genes studied in relation to both reproduction and aging. A review of the studies showed a pleiotropic action for six out of 16 genes and revealed that genes may exert positive, or negative, or antagonistic pleiotropic actions. These potential actions may be modified by such environmental factors such as changing reproductive behaviors, which seem to be able to mitigate or enhance a gene\'s phenotypic effects.

17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β-HSD1) catalyzes the reduction of estrone to estradiol, which is the most potent estrogen in humans. Inhibition of 17β-HSD1 and thereby reducing the intracellular estradiol concentration is thus a promising approach for the treatment of estrogen dependent diseases. In the past, several steroidal and non-steroidal inhibitors of 17β-HSD1 have been described but so far there is no cocrystal structure of the latter in complex with 17β-HSD1. However, a distinct knowledge of active site topologies and protein-ligand interactions is a prerequisite for structure-based drug design and optimization. An elegant strategy to enhance this knowledge is to compare inhibition values obtained for one compound toward ortholog proteins from various species, which are highly conserved in sequence and differ only in few residues. In this study the inhibitory potencies of selected members of different non-steroidal inhibitor classes toward marmoset 17β-HSD1 were determined and the data were compared with the values obtained for the human enzyme. A species specific inhibition profile was observed in the class of the (hydroxyphenyl)naphthols. Using a combination of computational methods, including homology modelling, molecular docking, MD simulation, and binding energy calculation, a reasonable model of the three-dimensional structure of marmoset 17β-HSD1 was developed and inhibition data were rationalized on the structural basis. In marmoset 17β-HSD1, residues 190 to 196 form a small α-helix, which induces conformational changes compared to the human enzyme. The docking poses suggest these conformational changes as determinants for species specificity and energy decomposition analysis highlighted the outstanding role of Asn152 as interaction partner for inhibitor binding. In summary, this strategy of comparing the biological activities of inhibitors toward highly conserved ortholog proteins might be an alternative to laborious x-ray or site-directed mutagenesis experiments in certain cases. Additionally, it facilitates inhibitor design and optimization by offering new information on protein-ligand interactions.

17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17beta-HSD1) catalyzes the transformation of estrone (E1) into the most potent estrogen, estradiol (E2), which stimulates cell proliferation and decreases apoptosis. 17beta-HSD1 is often strongly overexpressed in estrogen-dependent diseases (like breast cancer and endometriosis). Thus, this over expressed enzyme is a promising novel target for the development of selective inhibitors, which could be used as drugs for the treatment of these diseases. Using a structure- and ligand-based approach, a pharmacophore model was proposed and a new class of non-steroidal inhibitors of 17beta-HSD1 was designed. Enzyme inhibition was evaluated in vitro using the human enzyme. After identification of the 6-(3\'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-naphthol scaffold 1, the potency of this class of inhibitors was further improved by substitution of the 1-position of the naphthalene ring by a phenyl group (compound 18, IC(50)=20nM). Compound 18 also showed a good selectivity toward 17beta-HSD2 and the estrogen receptors alpha and beta.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of inhibitory effect of SLW on estrogen production by endometrial cells of endometriosis.
METHODS: After the model of eutopic primary cultured endometrial cells of endometiosis and hysteromyoma in vitro was successfully established, the changes of steroidgenic factor-1 (SF-1), chicken ovalbumin upstream-transcription factor (COUP-TF), 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (17-beta-HSD1) and 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (17-beta-HSD2) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR before and after treatment of medicated serum of SLW. The changes of SF-1 and COUP-TF protein were also observed by western blot synchronously according to the same treatment method mentioned-above. Meanwhile ,the data of hysteromyoma group was obtained from the above experiments.
RESULTS: The expression of SF-1 mRNA and protein, 17-beta-HSD1 mRNA was weak, but COUP-TF mRNA and protein, 17-beta-HSD2 mRNA was remarkable in Hysteromyoma endometrium, as compared with those of endometiosis ,which was taken as control group (P<0.01). After the 48 hours\' treatment of medicated serum of 5.0, 2.5 g kg(-1) d(-1) of SLW , the expression of COUP-TF mRNA and protein, 17beta-HSD2 mRNA was found significantly increased, but SF-1 mRNA and protein, 17-beta-HSD 1 mRNA was decreased in contrast to the control group (P <0.01 or P <0.05). Although the expresson of COUP-TF mRNA and protein was increased, SF-1 protein and 17-beta-HSD1 mRNA was decreased in 1.25 g kg(-1) d(-1) medicated serum group ,compared with those of the control group (P <0.01), the low dose group had no apparent inhibitory effect on the expression of SF-1, 17-beta-HSD2 mRNA.
CONCLUSIONS: The medicated serum of SLW could inhibit the secretion of estradiol in eutopic endometrial cells of endometiosis, and its mechanism might be associated with combined action of inhibiting expression of SF-1, 17-beta-HSD1 and up-regulating expression of COUP-TF, 17-beta-HSD2.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic as well as hormonal factors are known to influence the development and clinical course of endometriosis. We aimed to investigate the association among 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in the estrogen metabolism and endometriosis and to develop a multiple genetic model.
METHODS: In a case-control study, we investigated the genotype frequencies of 10 estrogen metabolizing SNPs in 32 patients with endometriosis and 790 healthy controls using sequencing-on-chip-technology with solid-phase polymerase chain reaction on oligonucleotide microarrays: catechol-O-methyltransferase, Val158Met G->A, 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD17), vlV A->C, cytochrome P450 (CYP), 17 A2 allele T->C, CYP1A1 MspI RFLP T->C, CYP1A1 Ile462Val A->G, CYP19 Arg264Cys C->T, CYP19 C1558T C->T, CYP 1B1 Leu432Val, CYP1B1 Asn453Ser, and estrogen receptor alpha IVS1 -401>C. Associations and 2-way interaction models between SNPs were calculated by stepwise logistic regression models.
RESULTS: In a univariate model, HSD17 vlV A->C was associated with a significantly increased risk of endometriosis (P = .004; odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 1.6-9.8). When all 2-way interactions of investigated SNPs were ascertained, no significant interactions among SNPs were observed. In a multivariate model, HSD17 vlV A->C was also significantly associated with endometriosis (P = .002).
CONCLUSIONS: We present data on multiple SNPs in patients with endometriosis indicating an association between HSD17 gene variation and the disease. Although not able to demonstrate interaction models of SNPs, we provide evidence of HSD17 vlV A->C as a low penetrance genetic marker of endometriosis.
METHODS: II-2.

The soluble enzyme, estradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase from human term placenta, appears to co-purify with a second soluble enzyme, 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The enzyme, which had been partially purified by affinity chromatography, fractionated on a preparative electrophoresis gel to a homogeneous preparation containing both estradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in a ratio of approximately 100:1. Analytical polyacrylamide disc-gels resolved this homogeneous preparation as a single band by both protein and activity staining techniques. Homogeneous enzyme inactivated and affinity-radioalkylated by 16 alpha-[2\'-14C]bromoacetoxyprogesterone or 16 alpha-[2\'-14C] bromoacetoxyestradiol 3-methyl ether, and when analyzed by SDS disc-gel electrophoresis, gave a single protein band which corresponded identically to the radioactivity peaks. These observations support the hypothesis that estradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase represent dual oxidoreductase activity in one enzyme. Preparative disc-gel electrophoresis, a technique which has not been previously adapted to purification of these human placental enzyme activities, was useful to rapidly (3 days) effect a 15-fold enrichment of the estradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase specific activity from \"heat-treated cytosol\". Thus, laboratory-scale preparative disc-gel electrophoresis is useful for rapid, small-scale enrichment of this soluble enzyme.

To characterize further the active site of human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62), we have synthesized 2-bromoacetamidoestrone methyl ether. The affinity-labeling steroid is a substrate for the homogeneous enzyme. It inactivates the enzyme in a time-dependent, irreversible manner which follows pseudo-first order kinetics. Further, inactivation conducted with varying steroid concentration displays saturation kinetics. When 1.7 x 10(-6) M enzyme is inactivated by 2.6 x 10(-4) M 2-bromoacetamidoestrone methyl ether, the presence of an equimolar concentration of estradiol or 5.2 x 10(-4) M concentrations of NAD+, NADP+, or NADPH markedly slow the rate of inactivation. Bromoacetate (2.6 x 10(-4) M) does not inactivate the enzyme. After inactivation with 2-bromo[2\'-14C]acetamidoestrone methyl ether, amino acid analysis reveals carboxymethylated derivatives of cysteine, histidine, and lysine containing 65, 25, and 8%, respectively, of the total incorporated carboxymethyl groups. The presence of estradiol, NADP+, or NADPH clearly inhibits alkylation of cysteinyl and histidyl residues and slows the rate of enzyme inactivation. Protection of these residues by both estradiol and NADPH suggests that they may actually be in the cofactor region of the active site, that this region is close to the steroid A-ring, and that binding of cofactor, by physical interposition, denies the reagent-bearing steroid access to these residues.