17-Oxime ethers of oxidized ecdysteroid derivatives modulate oxidative stress in human brain endothelial cells and dose-dependently might protect or damage the blood-brain barrier
20-Hydroxyecdysone and several of its oxidized derivatives exert cytoprotective effect in mammals including ans. Inspired by this bioactivity of ecdysteroids, in the current study it was our aim to prepare a set of sidechainmodified derivatives and to evaluate their potential to protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) from oxidative stress. Six novel ecdysteroids, including an oxime and five oxime ethers, were obtained through regioselective synthesis from a sidechain-cleaved calonysterone derivative 2 and fully characterized by comprehensive NMR techniques revealing their complete 1H and 13C signal assignments. Surprisingly, several compounds sensitized hCMEC/D3 brain microvascular endothelial cells to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative damage as recorded by impedance measurements. Compound 8, containing a benzyloxime ether moiety in its sidechain, was the only one that exerted a protective effect in a higher, 10 M dose, while at lower (10 M - 1 M) doses it promoted tBHP-induced cellular damage. Based on our results, 17-oxime ethers of oxidized ecdysteroids modulate oxidative stress of the BBB in a way that may point towards unexpected toxicity. Further studies are needed to evaluate any possible risk connected to dietary ecdysteroid consumption and CNS pathologies in which BBB damage plays an important role.