Intracrinology and The Skin
Abstract
The skin, the largest organ in the human body, is composed of a series of androgen-sensitive components that all express the steroidogenic enzymes required to transform dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In fact, in post-menopausal women, all sex steroids made in the skin are from adrenal steroid precursors, especially DHEA. Secretion of this precursor steroid by the adrenals decreases progressively from the age of 30 years to less than 50% of its maximal value at the age of 60 years. DHEA applied topically or by the oral route stimulates sebaceous gland activity, the changes observed being completely blocked in the rat by a pure antiandrogen while a pure antiestrogen has no significant effect, thus indicating a predominant or almost exclusive androgenic effect. In human skin, the enzyme that transforms DHEA into androstenedione is type 1 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (type 1 3β-HSD) as revealed by RNase protection and immunocytochemistry. The conversion of androstenedione into testosterone is then catalyzed in the human skin by type 5 17β-HSD. All the epidermal cells and cells of the sebaceous glands are labelled by type 5 17β-HSD. This enzyme is also present at a high level in the hair follicles. Type 1 is the 5α-reductase isoform responsible in human skin for the conversion of testosterone into DHT. In the vagina, on the other hand, DHEA exerts mainly an estrogenic effect, this effect having been demonstrated in the rat as well as in post-menopausal women. On the other hand, in experimental animals as well as in post-menopausal women, DHEA, at physiological doses, does not affect the endometrial epithelium, thus indicating the absence of DHEA-converting enzymes in this tissue, and avoiding the need for progestins when DHEA is used as hormone replacement therapy.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Human skin predominantly expresses the 3βHSD1 isoform.
“Human skin expresses predominantly the 3βHSD1 isoform [97].”
From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [97]
Skin-located formation of estrone from circulating androstenedione can be the main site of estrogen biosynthesis in postmenopausal women, obese individuals, and elderly men.
“The skin-located formation of E1 from circulating androstenedione can be the main site of estrogen biosynthesis in postmenopausal women, obese individuals and elderly men.”
From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [97]
Intracrine estrogen production in peripheral tissues in women is around 75% premenopausal and almost 100% postmenopausal, with minor adrenal and ovarian contribution.
“The intracrine production of estrogens in peripheral tissues in women is around 75% in premenopausal and almost 100% in postmenopausal women, with a minor contribution from adrenal and ovarian T and androstenedione [97].”
From Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions (2013) · cites this paper as [97]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Labrie, F. (1991) · Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/0303-7207(91)90116-a · Cited by 685 · see citing works
Self-citationLabrie, F., Diamond, P., Cusan, L., Gomez, J.-L., Bélanger, A., & Candas, B. (1997) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem.82.10.4306 · Cited by 292 · see citing works
Self-citationDHEA and peripheral androgen and estrogen formation: intracrinology
LABRIE, F., BÉLANGER, A., SIMARD, J., LUU‐THE, V., & LABRIE, C. (1995) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb17369.x · Cited by 280 · see citing works
Self-citationSimard, J., Luthy, I., Guay, J., Bélanger, A., & Labrie, F. (1986) · Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/0303-7207(86)90132-2 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Self-citationMartel, C., Rhéaume, E., Takahashi, M., Trudel, C., Couët, J., Luu-The, V., Simard, J., & Labrie, F. (1992) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/0960-0760(92)90390-5 · Cited by 231 · see citing works
Self-citationLuu-The, V., Zhang, Y., Poirier, D., & Labrie, F. (1995) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/0960-0760(95)00209-x · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Self-citationBélanger, B., Bélanger, A., Labrie, F., Dupont, A., Cusan, L., & Monfette, G. (1989) · Journal of Steroid Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/0022-4731(89)90514-1 · Cited by 212 · see citing works
Characterization, Expression, and Immunohistochemical Localization of 5α-Reductase in Human Skin
Luu-The, V., Sugimoto, Y., Puy, L., Labrie, Y., Solache, I. L., Singh, M., & Labrie, F. (1994) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12371766 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Self-citationLevels of plasma steroid glucuronides in intact and castrated men with prostatic cancer.
BÉLANGER, A., BROCHU, M., & CLICHE, J. (1986) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem-62-5-812 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Labrie, F., Simard, J., Luu-The, V., Pelletier, G., Bélanger, A., Lachance, Y., Zhao, H. F., Labrie, C., Breton, N., de Launoit, Y., et al. (1992) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/0960-0760(92)90368-s · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Early television exposure and subsequent attentional problems in children
Christakis, D. A., Zimmerman, F. J., DiGiuseppe, D. L., & McCarty, C. A. (2004) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.113.4.708 · Cited by 926 · see citing works
Acne and sebaceous gland function
Zouboulis, C. C. (2004) · Clinics in Dermatology · doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2004.03.004 · Cited by 561 · see citing works
Slominski (2012) · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-19683-6_1 · Cited by 461 · see citing works
Key role of CRF in the skin stress response system
Slominski, A. T., Zmijewski, M. A., Zbytek, B., Tobin, D. J., Theoharides, T. C., & Rivier, J. (2013) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/er.2012-1092 · Cited by 400 · see citing works
Steroidogenesis in the skin: Implications for local immune functions
Slominski, A., Zbytek, B., Nikolakis, G., Manna, P. R., Skobowiat, C., Zmijewski, M., Li, W., Janjetovic, Z., Postlethwaite, A., Zouboulis, C. C., et al. (2013) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.02.006 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Androgen therapy in women: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline
Wierman, M. E., Basson, R., Davis, S. R., Khosla, S., Miller, K. K., Rosner, W., & Santoro, N. (2006) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2006-1121 · Cited by 301 · see citing works
Adrenarche—physiology, biochemistry and human disease
Auchus, R. J., & Rainey, W. E. (2004) · Clinical Endocrinology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2265.2003.01858.x · Cited by 296 · see citing works
Cutaneous androgen metabolism: basic research and clinical perspectives
Chen, W., Thiboutot, D., & Zouboulis, C. C. (2002) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.00613.x · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Inactivation of androgens by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes in humans
Bélanger, A., Pelletier, G., Labrie, F., Barbier, O., & Chouinard, S. (2003) · Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.tem.2003.10.005 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Intracrine androgen biosynthesis, metabolism and action revisited
Schiffer, L., Arlt, W., & Storbeck, K.-H. (2018) · Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.mce.2017.08.016 · Cited by 217 · see citing works
“The resulting steroids include glucocorticoids and androgens and these pathways were reviewed in (Labrie et al., 2000; Nikolakis et al., 2016; Slominski et al., 2013).”
Human skin: an independent peripheral endocrine organ
Zouboulis, C. C. (2000) · Hormone Research in Paediatrics · doi:10.1159/000053265 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
CRH stimulates POMC activity and corticosterone production in dermal fibroblasts
Slominski, A., Zbytek, B., Semak, I., Sweatman, T., & Wortsman, J. (2005) · Journal of Neuroimmunology · doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.01.014 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
The skin as an endocrine organ
Zouboulis, C. C. (2009) · Dermato-Endocrinology · doi:10.4161/derm.1.5.9499 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Hennebert, O., Chalbot, S., Alran, S., & Morfin, R. (2007) · The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2007.03.026 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Cutaneous glucocorticosteroidogenesis: securing local homeostasis and the skin integrity
Slominski, A. T., Manna, P. R., & Tuckey, R. C. (2014) · Experimental Dermatology · doi:10.1111/exd.12376 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Skin steroidogenesis in health and disease
Nikolakis, G., Stratakis, C. A., Kanaki, T., Slominski, A., & Zouboulis, C. C. (2016) · Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders · doi:10.1007/s11154-016-9390-z · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Inoue, T., Miki, Y., Abe, K., Hatori, M., Hosaka, M., Kariya, Y., Kakuo, S., Fujimura, T., Hachiya, A., Honma, S., et al. (2012) · Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.mce.2012.05.005 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Anuka, E., Gal, M., Stocco, D. M., & Orly, J. (2013) · Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.mce.2013.02.003 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Samson, M., Labrie, F., Zouboulis, C. C., & Luu-The, V. (2010) · Journal of Investigative Dermatology · doi:10.1038/jid.2009.225 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Self-citationAshworth, J., Smyth, J., Pendleton, N., Horan, M., Payton, A., Worthington, J., Ollier, W., & Ashcroft, G. (2008) · Clinical Genetics · doi:10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00927.x · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Testosterone synthesis in patients with 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency
Werner, R., Kulle, A., Sommerfeld, I., Riepe, F. G., Wudy, S., Hartmann, M. F., Merz, H., Döhnert, U., Bertelloni, S., Holterhus, P.-M., et al. (2012) · Sexual Development · doi:10.1159/000336605 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
- Authors
- Labrie, F., Luu-The, V., Labrie, C., Pelletier, G., & El-Alfy, M.
- Affiliations
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CA)
- Venue
- Hormone Research in Paediatrics
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2000
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 5-6
- Pages
- 218-229
- ISSN
- 1663-2818 (ISSN-L)
- 1663-2826
- OpenAlex
- W2026197777
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 3.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormone Research in Paediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Keywords
- intracrinology, skin, dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androgen metabolism, steroidogenic enzymes, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5, 5α-reductase, sebaceous glands, epidermis, hair follicle, postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy, androgen receptor antagonists, antiestrogens
- MeSH terms
- Androgens, Animals, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Endocrinology, Endometrium, Enzymes, Estrogens, Female, Humans, Skin, Skin Physiological Phenomena, Steroids, Vagina
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
