Cited by 191Sexual Differentiation and DisordersAdrenal Hormones and DisordersSteroid Chemistry and Biochemistry

Increased activation of the alternative “backdoor” pathway in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency: evidence from urinary steroid hormone analysis

Kamrath, Clemens, Hochberg, Ze'ev, Hartmann, Michaela F., Remer, Thomas, Wudy, Stefan A.·2012·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) via an alternative "backdoor" route that bypasses the conventional intermediates androstenedione and testosterone. In this backdoor pathway, 17-OHP is converted to 5α-pregnane-3α,17α-diol-20-one (pdiol), which is an excellent substrate for the 17,20 lyase activity of CYP17A1 to produce androsterone. OBJECTIVE AND HYPOTHESES: The objective of this study was to obtain evidence for the presence of the backdoor pathway in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). METHODS: We compared urinary steroid hormone profiles determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of 142 untreated 21-OHD patients (age range, 1 d to 25.4 yr; 51 males) with 138 control subjects. The activity of the backdoor pathway was assessed using the ratios of the urinary concentrations of pdiol to those of the metabolites of the classic Δ4 and Δ5 pathways. In contrast to etiocholanolone, which originates almost exclusively from the classic pathways, androsterone may be derived additionally from the backdoor pathway. Therefore, the androsterone to etiocholanolone ratio can be used as an indicator for the presence of the backdoor pathway. RESULTS: Untreated 21-OHD subjects showed increased urinary ratios of pdiol to the Δ4 and Δ5 pathway metabolites and a higher androsterone to etiocholanolone ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated ratios of pdiol to the Δ4 and Δ5 pathway metabolites as well as the higher androsterone to etiocholanolone ratio in patients with 21-OHD indicate postnatal activity of the backdoor pathway with maximum activity during early infancy. Our data provide new insights into the pathophysiology of androgen biosynthesis of 21-OHD.

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Crossref · 10.1210/jc.2011-1997

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Authors
Kamrath, C., Hochberg, Z., Hartmann, M. F., Remer, T., & Wudy, S. A.
Affiliations
  • Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
  • Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (IL)
  • Forschungsinstitut für Kinderernährung (DE)
Corresponding author
Kamrath, Clemens
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Published
2012-03-01
Volume
97
Issue
3
Pages
E367-E375
ISSN
  • 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7197
OpenAlex
W2132144622
Cited by
191
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Steroid Chemistry and Biochemistry
Keywords
21-hydroxylase deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, CYP17A1, 17,20-lyase, androgen production, urinary steroids
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital, Adult, Androstenedione, Androsterone, Child, Child, Preschool, Etiocholanolone, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Dihydrotestosterone, Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase

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