Understanding the Role of Androgen Action in Female Adipose Tissue
Abstract
Adipose tissue is an important target of androgen action in humans. Androgens exert important effects on adipose tissue biology, including fat mass expansion and distribution, insulin signalling and lipid metabolism. In conditions of female androgen excess such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), androgens exert metabolically deleterious effects on adipose tissue function in a depot-specific manner. Androgen excess in women is metabolically deleterious, and adverse metabolic effects may be mediated by effects on preadipocyte differentiation and adipocyte hypertrophy. Circulating androgen burden correlates with adiposity in women, and drives visceral fat mass accumulation. Adipose tissue is also an important organ of pre-receptor androgen metabolism, and is host to a complex network of androgen activating and inactivating enzymes. Adipose androgen generation is increased in subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue in women with PCOS, and intra-adipose concentrations of potent androgens may exceed those measured in peripheral circulation. Increased expression of the key androgen-activating enzyme aldo-ketoreductase type 1C3 in PCOS SC adipose tissue leads to high concentrations of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Enhanced local androgen generation may further contribute to the adverse metabolic profile of women with PCOS by exerting lipotoxic effects on local adipose biology.
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Intermediate testosterone concentrations (below the male reference range but above the female reference range) are associated with accumulation of fat in both sexes.
“In contrast, intermediate testosterone concentrations, that is, below the male reference range but above the female reference range (e.g., untreated hypogonadal men and women with PCOS) are associated with accumulation of fat in both sexes. 27”
From The role of the androgen receptor in the pathogenesis of obesity and its utility as a target for obesity treatments (2022) · cites this paper as [27]
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- Authors
- Schiffer, L., Arlt, W., & O’Reilly, M. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Venue
- Frontiers of Hormone Research
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2019
- Volume
- 53
- Pages
- 33-49
- ISSN
- 0301-3073 (ISSN-L)
- 1662-3762
- OpenAlex
- W2972958218
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 35.30
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Frontiers of hormone research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Keywords
- androgen action, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperandrogenism, visceral fat accumulation, preadipocyte differentiation, adipocyte hypertrophy, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, lipotoxicity, subcutaneous adipose tissue
- MeSH terms
- Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3, Adipose Tissue, Androgens, Female, Humans, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
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