Hampl R, Starka L
Institute of Endocrinology, 116 94 Prague 1, Czech Republic.
Endocr Regul. 2000 Sep;34(3):161-3.
16alpha-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone is the precursor of fetal 16alpha-hydroxylated estrogens, the main phenolic steroids in pregnancy. For years their serum levels have been used as biochemical markers of well being of the fetus. In adults, however, increased levels of 16-hydroxylated estrogens were put in relation to the risk of cancer and, more recently, to some systemic autoimmune diseases. With respect to immunomodulatory effect of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites, of which 7-hydroxysteroids formed by a concurrent reaction to 16-hydroxylation, are believed to be even the more immunoprotective species, it may be of interest, what is the true role of 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone and other 16-hydroxysteroids of 3beta-hydroxy-5-ene series. The present knowledge on the latter metabolite was summarized and discussed.
16α-羟基脱氢表雄酮是胎儿16α-羟基化雌激素的前体，而16α-羟基化雌激素是孕期主要的酚类甾体。多年来，它们的血清水平一直被用作胎儿健康的生化标志物。然而，在成年人中，16-羟基化雌激素水平的升高与癌症风险相关，最近还与一些全身性自身免疫性疾病相关。关于脱氢表雄酮及其代谢产物的免疫调节作用，其中由与16-羟基化同时发生的反应形成的7-羟基甾体被认为甚至是更具免疫保护作用的物质，那么16α-羟基脱氢表雄酮和3β-羟基-5-烯系列的其他16-羟基甾体的真正作用可能会引起人们的兴趣。本文对后者代谢产物的现有知识进行了总结和讨论。
