Potent and selective steroidal inhibitors of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7, an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of the key hormones estrone and dihydrotestosterone.

17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 (17beta-HSD7) catalyzes the reduction of estrone (E(1)) into estradiol (E(2)) and of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into 5alpha-androstane-3beta,17beta-diol (3beta-diol), therefore modulating the level of mitogenic estrogens and androgens in humans. By classical and parallel chemistry, we generated several 4-methyl-4-aza-5alpha-androstane derivatives differing in their C-17 substituent: 17beta-formamide, 17beta-benzamide, and 17beta-tertiary amine. Best candidates in each category had demonstrated good inhibitory potency toward the conversion of E(1) into E(2) (IC(50) = 189-451 nM) and also toward the conversion of DHT into 3beta-diol (69-91% at 3 microM). Inhibition assays with 17beta-HSD1, 17beta-HSD5, 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) 1 and 5alpha-R2 revealed that 17beta-HSD7 inhibitors with a 4-methyl-4-aza nucleus were also able to inhibit 5alpha-Rs but not the other enzymes tested. Two 4-aza-5alpha-androstane inhibitors were, however, selective and still showed good inhibition of 17beta-HSD7. First selective and efficient inhibitors of 17beta-HSD7 are now available for additional mechanistic and therapeutic studies.