5α-reduction of epitestosterone is catalysed by human SRD5A1 and SRD5A2 and increases androgen receptor transactivation
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Published version
Author(s)
Schiffer, Lina
Arlt, Wiebke
Storbeck, Karl-Heinz
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Epitestosterone is a stereoisomer of the active androgen testosterone and its circulating concentrations are similar to those of testosterone in women and children. However, its biological function and pathways of metabolism remain unknown. The structural similarity to testosterone suggests a potential function in the modulation of androgen receptor signalling. It is well established that the conversion of testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone enhances local androgen receptor signalling. In this study, we show that epitestosterone is metabolized to 5α-dihydroepitestosterone by both human steroid 5α-reductase isoforms, SRD5A1 and SRD5A2. Using two different variations of a reporter assay for transactivation of the human androgen receptor, we show that epitestosterone is a partial AR agonist and that the 5α-reduction of epitestosterone increases its androgenic activity. In line with this, we show that 5α-reduction of epitestosterone reduces its ability to antagonize 5α-dihydrotestosterone-induced androgen receptor transactivation. In conclusion, we provide evidence that steroid 5α-reductases regulate the modulatory effect of epitestosterone on androgen receptor signalling.
Date Issued
2024-07
Date Acceptance
2024-03-25
Citation
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2024, 241
ISSN
0960-0760
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume
241
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076024000645
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
106516
Date Publish Online
2024-04-04