Cited by 90Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesAldose Reductase and TaurineHormonal and reproductive studies

Androgen inactivation and steroid-converting enzyme expression in abdominal adipose tissue in men

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Blouin, Karine, Richard, Christian, Brochu, Gaétan, Hould, Frédéric-Simon, Lebel, Stéfane, Marceau, Simon, Biron, Simon, Luu-The, Van +1 more·2006·Journal of Endocrinology

Abstract

We examined 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT) inactivation and the expression of several steroid-converting enzymes with a focus on aldoketoreductases 1C (AKR1C), especially AKR1C2, in abdominal adipose tissue in men. AKR1C2 is mainly involved in the conversion of the potent androgen 5alpha-DHT to its inactive forms 5alpha-androstane-3alpha/beta,17beta-diol (3alpha/beta-diol). Subcutaneous (s.c.) and omental (Om) adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from 21 morbidly obese men undergoing biliopancreatic derivation surgery and 11 lean to obese men undergoing general abdominal surgery. AKR1C2 mRNA and 5alpha-DHT inactivation were detected in both s.c. and Om adipose tissue. After incubation of preadipocytes with 5alpha-DHT, both 3alpha-diol and 3beta-diol were produced through 3alpha/beta-ketosteroid reductase (3alpha/beta-HSD) activity. In preadipocyte cultures, 3alpha-reductase activity was significantly predominant over 3beta-reductase activity in cells from both the s.c. and Om compartments. Expression levels of AKR1C1, AKR1C3 and of the androgen receptor were significantly higher in s.c. versus Om adipose tissue while mRNA levels of 17beta-HSD-2 (hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2) and 3(alpha-->beta)-hydroxysteroid epimerase were significantly higher in Om fat. 3Alpha/beta-HSD activity was mainly detected in the cytosolic fraction, suggesting that AKR1C may be responsible for this reaction. Experiments with isoform-specific AKR1C inhibitors in preadipocytes showed that AKR1C2 inhibition significantly decreased 3alpha-HSD and 3beta-HSD activities (3alpha-HSD: 30 +/- 24% of control for s.c. and 32 +/- 9% of control for Om, 3beta-HSD: 44 +/- 12% of control for s.c.). When cells were incubated with both AKR1C2 and AKR1C3 inhibitors, no significant additional inhibition was observed. 5Alpha-DHT inactivation was significantly higher in mature adipocytes compared with preadipocyte cultures in s.c. adipose tissue, as expressed per microgram total protein (755 +/- 830 versus 245 +/- 151 fmol 3alpha/beta-diol per microg protein over 24 h, P < 0.05 n = 10 cultures). 5Alpha-DHT inactivation measured in tissue homogenates was significantly higher in the s.c. depot compared with Om fat (117 +/- 39 versus 79 +/- 38 fmol 3alpha/beta-diol per microg prot over 24 h, P < 0.0001). On the other hand, Om 3alpha/beta-HSD activity was significantly higher in obese men (body mass index (BMI) >or= 30 kg/m2) compared with lean and overweight men (84 +/- 37 versus 52 +/- 30 fmol 3alpha/beta-diol per microg protein over 24 h, P < 0.03). No difference was found in s.c. 3alpha/beta-HSD activity between these groups. Positive correlations were found between s.c. 5alpha-DHT inactivation rate and circulating levels of the androgen metabolites androsterone-glucuronide (r = 0.41, P < 0.02) and 3alpha-diol-glucuronide (r = 0.38, P < 0.03) and with the adrenal precursor androstenedione (r = 0.42, P < 0.02). In conclusion, androgen inactivation was detected in abdominal adipose tissue in men, with higher 3alpha/beta-HSD activity in the s.c. versus Om depot. Higher Om 5alpha-DHT inactivation rates were found in obese compared with lean men. Further studies are required to elucidate whether local androgen inactivation in abdominal adipose tissue is involved in the modulation of adipocyte metabolism and regional fat distribution in men.

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  • The expression and activity of AKR1C1, AKR1C2 and AKR1C3 correlates with obesity in women and men.

    “and their expression and activity correlates with obesity in women and men (Blouin et al., 2005, Blouin et al., 2006).”

    From Intracrine androgen biosynthesis, metabolism and action revisited (2018) · cites this paper as Blouin et al., 2006

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  1. Lohman T, Roche A & Martorel R 1988 Standardization of anthropometric measurements. In: The Airlie (VA) consensus conference standardization of anthropometric measurements. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics 39-80.

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Authors
Blouin, K., Richard, C., Brochu, G., Hould, F.-S., Lebel, S., Marceau, S., Biron, S., Luu-The, V., & Tchernof, A.
Affiliations
Université Laval (CA)
Venue
Journal of Endocrinology
Published
2006-12
Volume
191
Issue
3
Pages
637-649
ISSN
  • 0022-0795 (ISSN-L)
  • 1479-6805
OpenAlex
W2103090722
Cited by
90
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
FWCI
4.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP‐53195)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Aldose Reductase and Taurine
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
dihydrotestosterone, AKR1C2, AKR1C3, AKR1C1, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, androgen receptor, abdominal fat, omental fat, subcutaneous adipose tissue, preadipocytes, morbid obesity, biliopancreatic diversion, androgen metabolism
MeSH terms
Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Androgens, Cells, Cultured, Humans, Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases, Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Dihydrotestosterone, Testosterone, 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases, 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases, Androstane-3,17-diol, Gene Expression, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, 3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific), Abdominal Fat, Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal

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