Abstract
The metabolism of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4), a major adrenal C19 steroid, was first characterised in our in vitro prostate models showing that 11OHA4, catalysed by 11βHSDs, 17βHSDs and 5α-reductases, yields potent androgens, 11keto-testosterone (11KT) and 11keto-dihydrotestosterone (11KDHT) in the 11OHA4-pathway [1]. Findings have since led to the analysis of C11-oxy steroids in PCOS, CAH and 21OHD. However, the only circulating C11-oxy steroids included to date have been 11OHA4, 11keto-androstenedione (11KA4), 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT) and 11KT, with 11KT reported as the only potent androgen produced from 11OHA4. We have identified higher levels of 11KDHT compared to 11KT in prostate cancer tissue and benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue and serum, with data suggesting impeded glucuronidation of the C11-oxy androgens [2,3]. The assessment of 11KDHT and the inactivation/conjugation of the C11-oxy steroids in clinical conditions is therefore crucial.
We investigated the metabolism of testosterone, 11KT, 11OHT, dihydrotestosterone, 11KDHT and 11OHDHT in JEG-3 placenta choriocarcinoma, MCF-7 BUS and T-47D breast cancer cells, focusing on glucuronidation and sulfation. Steroids were assayed at 1 µM and metabolites were quantified using UPC2-MS/MS. Conjugated steroids were not detected in JEG-3 cells with DHT (0.6 µM remaining) metabolised to 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol and androsterone (AST), and 11KDHT (0.9 µM remaining) to 11OHAST and 11KAST. 11OHA4 was converted to 11KA4 (12%) and 11KT (2.5%); and 11KT to 11KDHT (14%). In MCF-7 BUS cells, DHT was significantly glucuronidated, whereas 11KDHT was not. 11KAST was the only steroid in the MCF-7 BUS and T-47D cells that was significantly sulfated (p<0.05). In parallel we investigated sulfation in the LNCaP prostate model. Comparing sulfated to glucuronidated levels, only DHT was sulfated, 26%. Analysis showed that C19 steroids were significantly conjugated (glucuronidated + sulfated) compared to the C11-oxy C19 steroids.
As there exists an intricate interplay between steroid production and inactivation, impacting pre- and post-receptor activation, efficient conjugation would limit adverse downstream effects. Our data demonstrates the production and impeded conjugation of active C11-oxy C19 steroids, allowing the prolonged presence of androgenic steroids in the cellular microenvironment. Identified for the first time is the 11OHA4-pathway in placenta and breast cancer cells, and the sulfation of 11KAST. Characterising steroidogenic pathways in in vitro models paves the direction for in vivo studies associated with characterising clinical disorders and disease, which the C11-oxy C19 steroids and their intermediates, including inactivated and conjugated end-products, have highlighted. [1] Bloem, et al. JSBMB 2015, 153; [2] Du Toit & Swart. MCE 2018, 461; [3] Du Toit & Swart, JSBMB 2020, 105497.
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