DHEA-Bodipy–a functional fluorescent DHEA analog for live cell imaging

International audience; The androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to protect neuronal cells against dysfunction and apoptosis. Several signaling pathways involved in these effects have been described but little is known about the intracellular trafficking of DHEA. We describe design, synthesis and characterization of DHEA-Bodipy, a novel fluorescent DHEA analog. DHEA-Bodipy proved to be a functional DHEA derivative: DHEA-Bodipy (i) induced estrogen receptor α-mediated gene activation, (ii) protected PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells against serum deprivation-induced apoptosis, and (iii) induced stress fibers and focal adhesion contacts in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. …