Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to use computational approaches to predict the ADME-Tox profiles, pharmacokinetics, molecular targets, biological activity spectra and side/toxic effects of 31 anabolic and androgen steroids in humans.
Methods
The following computational tools are used: (i) FAFDrugs4, SwissADME and admetSARfor obtaining the ADME-Tox profiles and for predicting pharmacokinetics;(ii) SwissTargetPrediction and PASS online for predicting the molecular targets and biological activities; (iii) PASS online, Toxtree, admetSAR and Endocrine Disruptomefor envisaging the specific toxicities; (iv) SwissDock to assess the interactions of investigated steroids with cytochromes involved in drugs metabolism.
Results
Investigated steroids usually reveal a high gastrointestinal absorption and a good oral bioavailability, may inhibit someof the human cytochromes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics (CYP2C9 being the most affected) and reflect a good capacity for skin penetration. There are predicted numerous side effects of investigated steroids in humans: genotoxic carcinogenicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiovascular, hematotoxic and genitourinary effects, dermal irritations, endocrine disruption and reproductive dysfunction.
Conclusions
These results are important to be known as an occupational exposure to anabolic and androgenic steroids at workplaces may occur and because there also is a deliberate human exposure to steroids for their performance enhancement and anti-aging properties.
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Abbreviations
- AAS:
-
Anabolic androgen steroids
- ADME-Tox:
-
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolization, Excretion and Toxicity
- AR:
-
Agonistic conformation of the androgenic receptor
- AR an :
-
Antagonistic conformation of the androgenic receptor
- BBBP:
-
Blood brain barrier permeant
- ER α :
-
Agonistic conformation of the estrogen receptor alpha
- ER α an:
-
Antagonistic conformation of the estrogen receptor
- ER β:
-
Estrogen receptor beta
- ER β an :
-
Antagonistic conformation of the sstrogen receptor beta
- FDA:
-
Food and drug administration
- GI:
-
Gastrointestinal absorption
- GR:
-
Agonistic conformation of the glucocorticoid receptor
- GR an :
-
Antagonistic conformation of the glucocorticoid receptor
- hARLBD:
-
Human androgen receptor ligand-binding domain
- HSDB:
-
Hazardous substances data bank
- IUPAC:
-
International union of pure and applied chemistry
- LRX β:
-
Liver X receptor beta
- LXR α:
-
Liver X receptor alpha
- PASS:
-
Prediction of activity spectra of substances
- PDB:
-
Protein data bank
- P-gp:
-
P-glycoprotein
- PPRA α:
-
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha
- PPRA β:
-
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor beta
- PPRA γ:
-
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma
- QSAR:
-
Quantitative structure-activity relationship
- RXR α :
-
Retinoid X receptor alpha
- TR α:
-
Thyroid receptor alpha
- TR β:
-
Thyroid receptor beta
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Responsible editor: Kin Yip Tam, Zoran Mandic, and Tonglei Li
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Roman, M., Roman, D.L., Ostafe, V. et al. Computational Assessment of Pharmacokinetics and Biological Effects of Some Anabolic and Androgen Steroids. Pharm Res 35, 41 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-018-2353-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-018-2353-1