HSD17B1 Compensates for HSD17B3 Deficiency in Fetal Mouse Testis but Not in Adults.

Hydroxysteroid (17ß) dehydrogenase (HSD17B) enzymes convert 17-ketosteroids to 17beta-hydroxysteroids, an essential step in testosterone biosynthesis. Human XY individuals with inactivating HSD17B3 mutations are born with female-appearing external genitalia due to testosterone deficiency. However, at puberty their testosterone production reactivates, indicating HSD17B3-independent testosterone synthesis. We have recently shown that Hsd17b3 knockout (3-KO) male mice display a similar endocrine imbalance, with high serum androstenedione and testosterone in adulthood, but milder undermasculinization than humans. Here, we studied whether HSD17B1 is responsible for the remaining HSD17B activity in the 3-KO male mice by generating a Ser134Ala point mutation that disrupted the enzymatic activity of HSD17B1 (1-KO) followed by breeding Hsd17b1/Hsd17b3 double-KO (DKO) mice. In contrast to 3-KO, inactivation of both HSD17B3 and HSD17B1 in mice results in a dramatic drop in testosterone synthesis during the fetal period. This resulted in a female-like anogenital distance at birth, and adult DKO males displayed more severe undermasculinization than 3-KO, including more strongly reduced weight of seminal vesicles, levator ani, epididymis, and testis. However, qualitatively normal spermatogenesis was detected in adult DKO males. Furthermore, similar to 3-KO mice, high serum testosterone was still detected in adult DKO mice, accompanied by upregulation of various steroidogenic enzymes. The data show that HSD17B1 compensates for HSD17B3 deficiency in fetal mouse testis but is not the enzyme responsible for testosterone synthesis in adult mice with inactivated HSD17B3. Therefore, other enzymes are able to convert androstenedione to testosterone in the adult mouse testis and presumably also in the human testis.

Inhibiting HSD17B8 suppresses the cell proliferation caused by PTEN failure.

Loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN homolog daf-18 in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) triggers diapause cell division during L1 arrest. While prior studies have delved into established pathways, our investigation takes an innovative route. Through forward genetic screening in C. elegans, we pinpoint a new player, F12E12.11, regulated by daf-18, impacting cell proliferation independently of PTEN's typical phosphatase activity. F12E12.11 is an ortholog of human estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase 8 (HSD17B8), which converts estradiol to estrone through its NAD-dependent 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. We found that PTEN engages in a physical interplay with HSD17B8, introducing a distinctive suppression mechanism. The reduction in estrone levels and accumulation of estradiol may arrest tumor cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle through MAPK/ERK. Our study illuminates an unconventional protein interplay, providing insights into how PTEN modulates tumor suppression by restraining cell division through intricate molecular interactions.

D-Bifunctional Protein Deficiency Diagnosis-A Challenge in Low Resource Settings: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

D-bifunctional protein deficiency (D-BPD) is a rare, autosomal recessive peroxisomal disorder that affects the breakdown of long-chain fatty acids. Patients with D-BPD typically present during the neonatal period with hypotonia, seizures, and facial dysmorphism, followed by severe developmental delay and early mortality. While some patients have survived past two years of age, the detectable enzyme activity in these rare cases was likely a contributing factor. We report a D-BPD case and comment on challenges faced in diagnosis based on a narrative literature review. An overview of Romania's first patient diagnosed with D-BPD is provided, including clinical presentation, imaging, biochemical, molecular data, and clinical course. Establishing a diagnosis can be challenging, as the clinical picture is often incomplete or similar to many other conditions. Our patient was diagnosed with type I D-BPD based on whole-exome sequencing (WES) results revealing a pathogenic frameshift variant of the HSD17B4 gene, c788del, p(Pro263GInfs*2), previously identified in another D-BPD patient. WES also identified a variant of the SUOX gene with unclear significance. We advocate for using molecular diagnosis in critically ill newborns and infants to improve care, reduce healthcare costs, and allow for familial counseling.

Synthesis and characterization of targeted 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 inhibitors.

Sex steroid hormones such as estrogen estradiol (E2) and androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are involved in the development of hormone-dependent cancers. Blockade of 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 (17ß-HSD7), a member of the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily, is thought to decrease E2 levels while increasing those of DHT. Therefore, its unique double action makes this enzyme as an interesting drug target for treatment of breast cancer. The chemical synthesis, molecular characterization, and preliminary biological evaluation as 17ß-HSD7 inhibitors of novel carbamate derivatives 3 and 4 are described. Like previous 17ß-HSD7 inhibitors 1 and 2, compounds 3 and 4 bear a hydrophobic nonyl side chain at the C-17ß position of a 4-aza-5α-androstane nucleus, but compound 3 has an oxygen atom replacing the CH2 in the steroid A-ring C-2 position, while compound 4 has a C17-spiranic E-ring containing a carbamate function. They both inhibited the in vitro transformation of estrone (E1) into E2 by 17ß-HSD7, but the introduction of a (17 R)-spirocarbamate is preferable to replacing C-2 methylene with an oxygen atom since compound 4 (IC50 = 63 nM) is an inhibitor 14 times more powerful than compound 3 (IC50 = 900 nM). Furthermore, when compared to the reference inhibitor 1 (IC50 = 111 nM), the use of a C17-spiranic E-ring made it possible to introduce differently the hydrophobic nonyl side chain, without reducing the inhibitory activity.

PNPLA3 risk allele is associated with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma but not decompensation in compensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The PNPLA3-rs738409-G, TM6SF2-rs58542926-T, and HSD17B13-rs6834314-A polymorphisms have been associated with cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and HCC. However, whether they remain associated with HCC and decompensation in people who already have cirrhosis remains unclear, which limits the clinical utility of genetics in risk stratification as HCC is uncommon in the absence of cirrhosis. We aimed to characterize the effects of PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and HSD17B13 genotype on hepatic decompensation, HCC, and liver-related mortality or liver transplant in patients with baseline compensated cirrhosis. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective study of patients in the Michigan Genomics Initiative who underwent genotyping. The primary predictors were PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and HSD17B13 genotypes. Primary outcomes were either hepatic decompensation, HCC, or liver-related mortality/transplant. We conducted competing risk Fine-Gray analyses on our cohort. RESULTS: We identified 732 patients with baseline compensated cirrhosis. During follow-up, 50% of patients developed decompensation, 13% developed HCC, 24% underwent liver transplant, and 27% died. PNPLA3-rs738409-G genotype was associated with risk of incident HCC: adjusted subhazard hazard ratio 2.42 (1.40-4.17), p=0.0015 for PNPLA3-rs738409-GG vs. PNPLA3-rs738409-CC genotype. The 5-year cumulative incidence of HCC was higher in PNPLA3-rs738409-GG carriers than PNPLA3-rs738409-CC/-CG carriers: 15.6% (9.0%-24.0%) vs. 7.4% (5.2%-10.0%), p<0.001. PNPLA3 genotype was not associated with decompensation or the combined outcome of liver-related mortality or liver transplant. TM6SF2 and HSD17B13 genotypes were not associated with decompensation or HCC. CONCLUSIONS: The PNPLA3-rs738409-G allele is associated with an increased risk of HCC among patients with baseline compensated cirrhosis. People with cirrhosis and PNPLA3-rs738409-GG genotype may warrant more intensive HCC surveillance.

Relevance of PNPLA3, TM6SF2, HSD17B13, and GCKR Variants to MASLD Severity in an Egyptian Population.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a frequent clinical condition globally. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with NAFLD have been proposed in the literature and based on bioinformatic screening. The association between NAFLD and genetic variants in Egyptians is still unclear. Hence, we sought to investigate the association of some genetic variants with NAFLD in Egyptians. Egyptians have been categorized into either the MASLD group (n = 205) or the healthy control group (n = 187). The severity of hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis was assessed by a Fibroscan device. TaqMan-based genotyping assays were employed to explore the association of selected SNPs with MASLD. PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G variant is associated with the presence of MASLD with liver fibrosis, the severity of both hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis, increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increased alanine aminotransferase (all p < 0.05), while the TM6SF2 rs58542926 C>T, HSD17B13 rs9992651 G>A, and GCKR rs1260326 T>C variants were not (all p > 0.05). The TM6SF2 rs58542926 T allele is associated with increased fasting blood glucose and a decreased waist circumference. The GCKR rs1260326 C allele is associated with decreased aspartate transaminase and diastolic blood pressure (all p < 0.05). Only after adjusting for the risk factors (age, sex, BMI, WC, HDL, TG, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) F2 liver fibrosis score is negatively correlated with the HSD17B13 rs9992651 GA genotype. This study offers evidence for the association of the PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G variant with MASLD among Egyptians and for the association of the PNPLA3 rs738409 G allele, the TM6SF2 rs58542926 T allele, and the GCKR rs1260326 C allele with some parameters of cardiometabolic criteria.

Mitigating effect of pomegranate peel extract against the furan induced testicular injury by apoptosis, steroidogenic enzymes and oxidative stress.

Furan is generated in a wide array of heat-treated foods through thermal degradation, leading to severe impairments in the male reproductive system. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential of pomegranate peel extract (PGPE) in mitigating testicular dysfunctions induced by furan. Male rats were categorized into four groups: control/untreated, PGPE, furan, and PGPE + furan group. The study results revealed that furan-treated rats exhibited significantly elevated aminotransferase and phosphatase activity, and also generated increased oxidative stress, and reduced antioxidative stress protein activity. Additionally, protein content levels (ALT, AST, ALP, and ACP) and activities of steroidogenic Leydig cell hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD) enzymes were significantly decreased. Significant variations in testicular parameters, apoptotic genes (Bcl-2, P53, and Caspase3), inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL1ß, IL10), male sex hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and sperm quality were also observed. Furthermore, testicular histological abnormalities were confirmed by biochemical and molecular modifications. Notably, PGPE pre-treated furan-intoxicated animals exhibited significant improvements in most of the assessed parameters compared to furan-treated groups. In conclusion, PGPE presents essential preventive measures and a novel pharmacological potential therapy against furan-induced testicular injury.

The metabolic activation of pentachlorophenol to chloranil as a potent inhibitor of human and rat placental 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widely used pesticide. However, whether PCP and its metabolite chloranil have endocrine-disrupting effects by inhibiting placental 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (3ß-HSD1) remains unclear. The study used in vitro assays with human and rat placental microsomes to measure 3ß-HSD activity as well as human JAr cells to evaluate progesterone production. The results showed that PCP exhibited moderate inhibition of human 3ß-HSD1, with an IC50 value of 29.83 µM and displayed mixed inhibition in terms of mode of action. Conversely, chloranil proved to be a potent inhibitor, demonstrating an IC50 value of 147 nM, and displaying a mixed mode of action. PCP significantly decreased progesterone production by JAr cells at 50 µM, while chloranil markedly reduced progesterone production at ≥1 µM. Interestingly, PCP and chloranil moderately inhibited rat placental homolog 3ß-HSD4, with IC50 values of 27.94 and 23.42 µM, respectively. Dithiothreitol (DTT) alone significantly increased human 3ß-HSD1 activity. Chloranil not PCP mediated inhibition of human 3ß-HSD1 activity was completely reversed by DTT and that of rat 3ß-HSD4 was partially reversed by DTT. Docking analysis revealed that both PCP and chloranil can bind to the catalytic domain of 3ß-HSDs. The difference in the amino acid residue Cys83 in human 3ß-HSD1 may explain why chloranil is a potent inhibitor through its interaction with the cysteine residue of human 3ß-HSD1. In conclusion, PCP is metabolically activated to chloranil as a potent inhibitor of human 3ß-HSD1.

Effects of organochlorine pesticides on human and rat 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 activity: Structure-activity relationship and in silico docking analysis.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of 11 organochlorine pesticides on human and rat 17ß-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (17ß-HSD1) in human placental and rat ovarian microsome and on estradiol production in BeWo cells. The results showed that the IC50 values for endosulfan, fenhexamid, chlordecone, and rhothane on human 17ß-HSD1 were 21.37, 73.25, 92.80, and 117.69 µM. Kinetic analysis revealed that endosulfan acts as a competitive inhibitor, fenhexamid as a mixed/competitive inhibitor, chlordecone and rhothane as a mixed/uncompetitive inhibitor. In BeWo cells, all insecticides except endosulfan significantly decreased estradiol production at 100 µM. For rats, the IC50 values for dimethomorph, fenhexamid, and chlordecone were 11.98, 36.92, and 109.14 µM. Dimethomorph acts as a mixed inhibitor, while fenhexamid acts as a mixed/competitive inhibitor. Docking analysis revealed that endosulfan and fenhexamid bind to the steroid-binding site of human 17ß-HSD1. On the other hand, chlordecone and rhothane binds to a different site other than the steroid and NADPH-binding site. Dimethomorph binds to the steroid/NADPH binding site, and fenhexamid binds to the steroid binding site of rat 17ß-HSD1. Bivariate correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between IC50 values and LogP for human 17ß-HSD1, while a slight negative correlation was observed between IC50 values and the number of HBA. ADMET analysis provided insights into the toxicokinetics and toxicity of organochlorine pesticides. In conclusion, this study identified the inhibitory effects of 3-4 organochlorine pesticides and binding mechanisms on human and rat 17ß-HSD1, as well as their impact on hormone production.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances inhibit human and rat 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1: Quantitative structure-activity relationship and molecular docking analysis.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances are enduring industrial materials. 17ß-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform 1 (17ß-HSD1) is an estrogen metabolizing enzyme, which transforms estrone into estradiol in human placenta and rat ovary. Whether PFAS inhibit 17ß-HSD1 and what the structure-activity relationship (SAR) remains unexplored. We screened 18 PFAS for inhibiting human and rat 17ß-HSD1 in microsomes and studied their SAR and mode of action(MOA). Of the 11 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), C8-C14 PFCAs at a concentration of 100 µM substantially inhibited human 17ß-HSD1, with order of C11 (half-maximal inhibition concentration, IC50, 8.94 µM) > C10 (10.52 µM) > C12 (14.90 µM) > C13 (30.97 µM) > C9 (43.20 µM) > C14 (44.83 µM) > C8 (73.38 µM) > others. Of the 7 per- and poly-fluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs), the potency was C8S (IC50, 14.93 µM) > C7S (80.70 µM) > C6S (177.80 µM) > others. Of the PFCAs, C8-C14 PFCAs at 100 µM markedly reduced rat 17ß-HSD1 activity, with order of C11 (IC50, 9.11 µM) > C12 (14.30 µM) > C10 (18.24 µM) > C13 (25.61 µM) > C9 (67.96 µM) > C8 (204.39 µM) > others. Of the PFSAs, the potency was C8S (IC50, 37.19 µM) > C7S (49.38 µM) > others. In contrast to PFOS (C6S), the partially fluorinated compound 6:2 FTS with an equivalent number of carbon atoms demonstrated no inhibition of human and rat 17ß-HSD1 activity at a concentration of 100 µM. The inhibition of human and rat enzymes by PFAS followed a V-shaped trend from C4 to C14, with a nadir at C11. Moreover, human 17ß-HSD1 was more sensitive than rat enzyme. PFAS inhibited human and rat 17ß-HSD1 in a mixed mode. Docking analysis revealed that they bind to the NADPH and steroid binding site of both 17ß-HSD1 enzymes. The 3D quantitative SAR (3D-QSAR) showed that hydrophobic region, hydrogen bond acceptor and donor are key factors in binding to 17ß-HSD1 active sites. In conclusion, PFAS exhibit inhibitory effects on human and rat 17ß-HSD1 depending on factors such as carbon chain length, degree of fluorination, and the presence of carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid groups, with a notable V-shaped shift observed at C11.

Theoretical Analysis and Expression Profiling of 17ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Genes in Gonadal Development and Steroidogenesis of Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus).

The differentiation and developmental trajectory of fish gonads, significantly important for fish breeding, culture, and production, has long been a focal point in the fields of fish genetics and developmental biology. However, the mechanism of gonadal differentiation in leopard coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) remains unclear. This study investigates the 17ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (Hsd17b) gene family in P. leopardus, with a focus on gene characterization, expression profiling, and functional analysis. The results reveal that the P. leopardus's Hsd17b gene family comprises 11 members, all belonging to the SDR superfamily. The amino acid similarity is only 12.96%, but conserved motifs, such as TGxxxGxG and S-Y-K, are present in these genes. Hsd17b12a and Hsd17b12b are unique homologs in fish, and chromosomal localization has confirmed that they are not derived from different transcripts of the same gene, but rather are two independent genes. The Hsd17b family genes, predominantly expressed in the liver, heart, gills, kidneys, and gonads, are involved in synthesizing or metabolizing sex steroid hormones and neurotransmitters, with their expression patterns during gonadal development categorized into three distinct categories. Notably, Hsd17b4 and Hsd17b12a were highly expressed in the testis and ovary, respectively, suggesting their involvement in the development of reproductive cells in these organs. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) further indicated specific expression sites for these genes, with Hsd17b4 primarily expressed in germ stem cells and Hsd17b12a in oocytes. This comprehensive study provides foundational insights into the role of the Hsd17b gene family in gonadal development and steroidogenesis in P. leopardus, contributing to the broader understanding of fish reproductive biology and aquaculture breeding.

Demethoxylation of curcumin enhances its inhibition on human and rat 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3: QSAR structure-activity relationship and in silico docking analysis.

Curcuminoids have many pharmacological effects. They or their metabolites may have side effects by suppressing 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17ß-HSD3). Herein, we investigated the inhibition of curcuminoids and their metabolites on human and rat 17ß-HSD3 and analyzed their structure-activity relationship (SAR) and performed in silico docking. Curcuminoids and their metabolites ranked in terms of IC50 values against human 17ß-HSD3 were bisdemethoxycurcumin (0.61 µM) > curcumin (8.63 µM) > demethoxycurcumin (9.59 µM) > tetrahydrocurcumin (22.04 µM) > cyclocurcumin (29.14 µM), and those against rat 17ß-HSD3 were bisdemethoxycurcumin (3.94 µM) > demethoxycurcumin (4.98 µM) > curcumin (9.62 µM) > tetrahydrocurcumin (45.82 µM) > cyclocurcumin (143.5 µM). The aforementioned chemicals were mixed inhibitors for both enzymes. Molecular docking analysis revealed that they bind to the domain between the androstenedione and NADPH active sites of 17ß-HSD3. Bivariate correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between LogP and pKa of curcumin derivatives with their IC50 values. Additionally, a 3D-QSAR analysis revealed that a pharmacophore model consisting of three hydrogen bond acceptor regions and one hydrogen bond donor region provided a better fit for bisdemethoxycurcumin compared to curcumin. In conclusion, curcuminoids and their metabolites possess the ability to inhibit androgen biosynthesis by directly targeting human and rat 17ß-HSD3. The inhibitory strength of these compounds is influenced by their lipophilicity and ionization characteristics.

Development of a clinical prediction model for diabetic kidney disease with glucose and lipid metabolism disorders based on machine learning and bioinformatics technology.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the internal relationship between the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment and investigated the role of the immune microenvironment of glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in the occurrence and progression of DKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chip datasets GSE104948 and GSE96804 from the Gene Expression Common Database (GEO) were merged using the "lima" and "sva" software packages in R Software (4.2.3), and the merged dataset was used as the validation set. The intersection between the differential genes of DKD and the glucose and lipid metabolism genes in the MSigDB database was identified, and a nomogram of the incidence risk of DKD was built using three machine learning methods, namely LASSO regression, support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), to validate the accuracy of the prediction model. Immune scores were conducted using the unsupervised clustering method, and patients were divided into two subgroups. The two subgroups were screened for differential genes for enrichment analysis. The differential genes of patients diagnosed with DKD were clustered into two gene subgroups for co-expression analysis. In this study, we utilized the Cytoscape software to construct a network of interactions among key genes. RESULTS: Using machine learning, a diagnostic model was developed with G6PC and HSD17B14 as key factors. Enrichment analysis and immune scoring demonstrated that the development of DKD was related to the imbalance in the microenvironment brought about by glucose lipid metabolism disorders. CONCLUSIONS: G6PC and HSD17B14 may be potential biomarkers for DKD, and the established predictive model is more helpful in predicting the incidence of DKD.

A comprehensive meta-analysis of transcriptome data to identify signature genes associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a five-year survival rate of less than 5%. Absence of symptoms at primary tumor stages, as well as high aggressiveness of the tumor can lead to high mortality in cancer patients. Most patients are recognized at the advanced or metastatic stage without surgical symptom, because of the lack of reliable early diagnostic biomarkers. The objective of this work was to identify potential cancer biomarkers by integrating transcriptome data. METHODS: Several transcriptomic datasets comprising of 11 microarrays were retrieved from the GEO database. After pre-processing, a meta-analysis was applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and nontumor samples for datasets. Next, co-expression analysis, functional enrichment and survival analyses were used to determine the functional properties of DEGs and identify potential prognostic biomarkers. In addition, some regulatory factors involved in PDAC including transcription factors (TFs), protein kinases (PKs), and miRNAs were identified. RESULTS: After applying meta-analysis, 1074 DEGs including 539 down- and 535 up-regulated genes were identified. Pathway enrichment analyzes using Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in the HIF-1 signaling pathway and focal adhesion. The results also showed that some of the DEGs were assigned to TFs that belonged to 23 conserved families. Sixty-four PKs were identified among the DEGs that showed the CAMK family was the most abundant group. Moreover, investigation of corresponding upstream regions of DEGs identified 11 conserved sequence motifs. Furthermore, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 8 modules, more of them were significantly enriched in Ras signaling, p53 signaling, MAPK signaling pathways. In addition, several hubs in modules were identified, including EMP1, EVL, ELP5, DEF8, MTERF4, GLUP1, CAPN1, IGF1R, HSD17B14, TOM1L2 and RAB11FIP3. According to survival analysis, it was identified that the expression levels of two genes, EMP1 and RAB11FIP3 are related to prognosis. CONCLUSION: We identified several genes critical for PDAC based on meta-analysis and system biology approach. These genes may serve as potential targets for the treatment and prognosis of PDAC.

Light-switchable diazocines as potential inhibitors of testosterone-synthesizing 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3.

In patients with prostate carcinoma as well as in some other cancer types, the reduction of testosterone levels is desired because the hormone stimulates cancer cell growth. One molecular target for this goal is the inhibition of 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17ßHSD3), which produces testosterone from its direct precursor androstenedione. Recent research in this field is trying to harness photopharmacological properties of certain compounds so that the inhibitory effect could be turned on and off by irradiation. Seven new light-switchable diazocines were investigated with regard to their inhibition of 17ßHSD3. For this purpose, transfected HEK-293 cells and isolated microsomes were treated with the substrate and the potential inhibitors with and without irradiation for an incubation period of 3 or 5 h. The amount of generated testosterone was measured by UHPLC and compared between samples and control as well as between irradiated and non-irradiated samples. There was no significant difference between samples with and without irradiation. However, four of the seven diazocines led to a significantly lower testosterone production both in cell and in microsome assays. In some of the irradiated samples, a partial destruction of the diazocines was observed, indicated by an additional UHPLC peak. However, the influence on the inhibition is negligible, because the majority of the substance remained intact. In conclusion, new inhibitors of 17ßHSD3 have been found, but so far without the feature of a light switch, since the configurational alteration of the diazocines by irradiation did not lead to a change in bioactivity. Further modification might help to find a light-switching molecule that inhibits only in one configuration.

Prenatal diagnosis and perinatal findings of 17q12 microdeletion encompassing HNF1B in a fetus with bilateral hyperechogenic kidneys on fetal ultrasound and mild renal abnormality after birth, and a review of the literature of prenatal diagnosis of 17q12 microdeletion.

OBJECTIVE: We present prenatal diagnosis and perinatal findings of 17q12 microdeletion encompassing HNF1B in a fetus with bilateral hyperechogenic kidneys on fetal ultrasound and mild renal abnormality after birth, and a review of the literature. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old, primigravid woman underwent amniocentesis at 17 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age. Simultaneous array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis on the DNA extracted from uncultured amniocytes showed a de novo 1.38-Mb 17q12 microdeletion encompassing LHX1 and HNF1B. The parents did not have such a microdeletion. Prenatal ultrasound showed bilateral hyperechogenic kidneys with normal corticomedullary (CM) differentiation. The parents elected to continue the pregnancy, and a grossly normal 3180-g male baby was delivered at 39 weeks of gestation. aCGH analysis on the cord blood DNA revealed arr [GRCh37 (hg19)] 17q12 (34,856,055-36,248,918) × 1.0 with a 1.393-Mb microdeletion encompassing the genes of MYO19, PIGW, GGNBP2, DHRS11, MRM1, LHX1, AATF, ACACA, TADA2A, DUSP14, SYNRG, DDX52 and HNF1B. When follow-up at age 2 years and 4 months, the renal ultrasound revealed bilateral increased renal echogenicity with normal CM differentiation and small left renal cysts. The blood test revealed BUN = 28 mg/dL (normal: 5-18 mg/dL) and creatinine = 0.5 mg/dL (normal: 0.2-0.4 mg/dL). CONCLUSION: 17q12 microdeletion encompassing LHX1 and HNF1B at prenatal diagnosis may present variable clinical spectrum with bilateral hyperechogenic kidneys on fetal ultrasound and mild renal abnormality after birth. Prenatal diagnosis of fetal hyperechogenic kidneys should raise a suspicion of 17q12 microdeletion syndrome.

Characterization of eight types of 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases from the Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus: The probable role of type 12a in ovarian estradiol synthesis.

17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (Hsd17bs) play a critical role in sex steroid biosynthesis. Although multiple types of Hsd17b have been found in fish, there is limited research on their expression and function. Recently, we succeeded in identifying eight types of Hsd17b (types 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12a, 12b, and 14) by RNA sequencing in the Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus, a commercially important clupeoid fish; however, a homologous sequence of Hsd17b1, which catalyzes the key reaction of estradiol-17ß (E2) synthesis, was absent. Here, we aimed to identify the Hsd17b type that plays a major role in E2 synthesis during ovarian development in Japanese sardine. The cDNAs encoding those eight types of Hsd17b were cloned and sequenced. The expressions of hsd17b3, hsd17b12a, and hsd17b12b were higher in ovary than in testis. In particular, hsd17b12a was predominantly expressed in the ovary. Expression of hsd17b3, hsd17b4, hsd17b12a, and hsd17b12b in the ovary increased during ovarian development. The enzymatic activities of Hsd17b3, Hsd17b12a, and Hsd17b12b were evaluated by expressing their recombinants in human embryonic kidney 293T cells. Hsd17b12a and Hsd17b12b catalyzed the conversion of androstenedione (AD) to testosterone (T) and estrone (E1) to E2. The results of in vitro bioassays using sardine ovaries indicated that E2 is synthesized from pregnenolone via AD and T, but not E1. These results suggest that Hsd17b12a plays a major role in E2 synthesis in sardine ovary by catalyzing the conversion of AD to T.

Comparison of structure-activity relationship for bisphenol analogs in the inhibition of gonadal 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases among human, rat, and mouse.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used plastic material and its potential endocrine disrupting effect has restricted its use and increasing use of BPA alternatives has raised health concerns. However, the effect of bisphenol alternatives on steroidogenesis remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare inhibitory potencies of 10 BPA alternatives in the inhibition of gonadal 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) in three species (human, rat and mouse). The inhibitory potency for human 3ß-HSD2, rat 3ß-HSD1, and mouse 3ß-HSD6 ranged from bisphenol FL (IC50, 3.32 µM for human, 5.19 µM for rat, and 3.26 µM for mouse) to bisphenol E, F, and thiodiphenol (ineffective at 100 µM). Most BPA alternatives were mixed inhibitors of gonadal 3ß-HSD and they dose-dependently inhibited progesterone formation in KGN cells. Molecular docking analysis showed that all BPA analogs bind to steroid and NAD+ active sites. Lipophilicity of BPA alternatives was inversely correlated with IC50 values. In conclusion, BPA alternatives mostly can inhibit gonadal 3ß-HSDs and lipophilicity determines their inhibitory strength.

The glucocorticoid-activating enzyme 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 catalyzes the activation of testosterone.

Testosterone biosynthesis from its precursor androstenedione is thought to be exclusively catalysed by the 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases-HSD17B3 in testes, and AKR1C3 in the ovary, adrenal and peripheral tissues. Here we show for the first time that the glucocorticoid activating enzyme 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD11B1) can also catalyse the 17ß-reduction of androstenedione to testosterone, using a combination of in vitro enzyme kinetic assays, mathematical modelling, and molecular docking analysis. Furthermore, we show that co-expression of HSD11B1 and AKR1C3 increases testosterone production several-fold compared to the rate observed with AKR1C3 only, and that HSD11B1 is likely to contribute significantly to testosterone production in peripheral tissues.

Abnormal Brain Protein Abundance and Cross-tissue mRNA Expression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Due to the limitations of the present risk genes in understanding the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is necessary to find additional causative genes utilizing novel approaches. In this study, we conducted a two-stage proteome-wide association study (PWAS) using ALS genome-wide association study (GWAS) data (N = 152,268) and two distinct human brain protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) datasets (ROSMAP N = 376 and Banner N = 152) to identify ALS risk genes and prioritized candidate genes with Mendelian randomization (MR) and Bayesian colocalization analysis. Next, we verified the aberrant expression of risk genes in multiple tissues, including lower motor neurons, skeletal muscle, and whole blood. Six ALS risk genes (SCFD1, SARM1, TMEM175, BCS1L, WIPI2, and DHRS11) were found during the PWAS discovery phase, and SARM1 and BCS1L were confirmed during the validation phase. The following MR (p = 2.10 × 10-7) and Bayesian colocalization analysis (ROSMAP PP4 = 0.999, Banner PP4 = 0.999) confirmed the causal association between SARM1 and ALS. Further differential expression analysis revealed that SARM1 was markedly downregulated in lower motor neurons (p = 7.64 × 10-3), skeletal muscle (p = 9.34 × 10-3), and whole blood (p = 1.94 × 10-3). Our findings identified some promising protein candidates for future investigation as therapeutic targets. The dysregulation of SARM1 in multiple tissues provides a new way to explain ALS pathology.