Peripheral blood mononuclear cells preferentially activate 11-oxygenated androgens

Abstract

Objective: Androgens are important modulators of immune cell function. The local generation of active androgens from circulating precursors is an important mediator of androgen action in peripheral target cells or tissues. We aimed to characterize the activation of classic and 11-oxygenated androgens in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: PBMCs were isolated from healthy male donors and incubated ex vivo with precursors and active androgens of the classic and 11-oxygenated androgen pathways. Steroids were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The expression of genes encoding steroid-metabolizing enzymes was assessed by quantitative PCR. Results: PBMCs generated 8-fold higher amounts of the active 11-oxygenated androgen 11-ketotestosterone than the classic androgen testosterone from their respective precursors. We identified the enzyme AKR1C3 as the major reductive 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in PBMCs responsible for both conversions and found that within the PBMC compartment natural killer cells are the major site of AKRC13 expression and activity. Steroid 5α-reductase type 1 catalyzed the 5α-reduction of classic but not 11-oxygenated androgens in PBMCs. Lag time prior to the separation of cellular components from whole blood increased serum 11-ketotestosterone concentrations in a time-dependent fashion, with significant increases detected from two hours after blood collection. Conclusions: 11-oxygenated androgens are the preferred substrates for androgen activation by AKR1C3 in PBMCs, primarily conveyed by natural killer cell AKR1C3 activity, yielding 11-ketotestosterone the major active androgen in PBMCs. Androgen metabolism by PBMCs can affect the results of serum 11-ketotestosterone measurements, if samples are not separated in a timely fashion.

Defining the biological functions and clinical significance of AKR1C3 in gastric carcinogenesis through multiomics functional analysis and immune infiltration analysis

“…Wu et al noted that the AKR1C3-dependent increase in lipid droplet accumulation protects cancer cells from sorafenib-induced mitochondrial lipotoxicity and induces adaptation to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma 33 . AKR1C3 effectively catalyzes the activation of 11-oxygenated androgens in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which can decrease NK cell cytotoxicity and increase infection risk 34 . Analogously, it has been revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms of AKR1C3 alter drug metabolism and immune responses in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma 35 .…”

Prostaglandin F2α synthase promotes oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer through prostaglandin F2α-dependent and F2α-independent mechanism

“…PGFS belongs to the AKR superfamily of NADP (H)-dependent enzymes, which play central roles in the proinflammation[ 20 , 27 ], proliferation[ 15 , 28 ] and drug resistance of tumors[ 29 - 31 ]. Previous studies have shown that Oxa suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in CRC cells[ 32 ].…”

Effects of intestinal flora on polycystic ovary syndrome

“…Some studies have confirmed that the degree of oxidative stress and the level of inflammatory factors in patients with PCOS are positively correlated with the level of androgen ( 56 ). More directly, various inflammatory factors can trigger the production of excessive ovarian androgens or inhibit the aromatization of androgen into estrogen ( 57 , 58 ). Obesity is a metabolic state characterized by chronic inflammation.…”