Serum steroid metabolite profiling by LC-MS/MS in two phenotypic male patients with HSD17B3 deficiency: Implications for hormonal diagnosis

Evaluation of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity using progesterone and androgen receptors-mediated transactivation

3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3β-HSDs) catalyze the oxidative conversion of delta (5)-ene-3-beta-hydroxy steroids and ketosteroids. Human 3β-HSD type 2 (HSD3B2) is predominantly expressed in gonadal and adrenal steroidogenic cells for producing all classes of active steroid hormones. Mutations in HSD3B2 gene cause a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia with varying degree of salt wasting and incomplete masculinization, resulting from reduced production of corticoids and androgens. Therefore, evaluation of the HSD3B2 enzymatic activity in both pathways for each steroid hormone production is important for accurately understanding and diagnosing this disorder. Using progesterone receptor (PR)- and androgen receptor (AR)-mediated transactivation, we adapted a method that easily evaluates enzymatic activity of HSD3B2 by quantifying the conversion from substrates [pregnenolone (P5) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] to (progesterone and androstenedione). HEK293 cells were transduced to express human HSD3B2, and incubated medium containing P5 or DHEA. Depending on the incubation time with HSD3B2-expressing cells, the culture media progressively increased luciferase activities in CV-1 cells, transfected with the PR/AR expression vector and progesterone-/androgen-responsive reporter. Culture media from human and other mammalian HSD3B1-expressing cells also increased the luciferase activities. HEK293 cells expressing various missense mutations in the HSD3B2 gene revealed the potential of this system to evaluate the relationship between the enzymatic activities of mutant proteins and patient phenotype.

Diversity of Androgens; Comparison of Their Significance and Characteristics in Vertebrate Species

Androgen(s) is one of the sex steroids that are involved in many physiological phenomena of vertebrate species. Although androgens were originally identified as male sex hormones, it is well known now that they are also essential in females. As in the case of other steroid hormones, androgen is produced from cholesterol through serial enzymatic reactions. Although testis is a major tissue to produce androgens in all species, androgens are also produced in ovary and adrenal (interrenal tissue). Testosterone is the most common and famous androgen. It represents a major androgen both in males and females of almost vertebrate species. In addition, testosterone is a precursor for producing significant androgens such as11-ketotestosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 11-ketodihydrotestosterones and 15α-hydroxytestosterone in a species- or sex-dependent manner for their homeostasis. In this article, we will review the significance and characteristics of these androgens, following a description of the history of testosterone discovery and its synthetic pathways.