11β-Hydroxyprogesterone (11β-OHP), also known as 21-deoxycorticosterone, as well as 11β-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a

naturally occurring A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical sy ...

, endogenous steroid and derivative of progesterone. It is a potent mineralocorticoid. Syntheses of 11β-OHP from progesterone is catalyzed by the steroid 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) enzyme, and, to a lesser extent, by the

aldosterone synthase Aldosterone synthase, also called steroid 18-hydroxylase, corticosterone 18-monooxygenase or P450C18, is a steroid hydroxylase cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the mineralocorticoid aldosterone and other steroids. The enzyme ...

enzyme (CYP11B2).

Function

Along with its epimer

11α-hydroxyprogesterone 11α-Hydroxyprogesterone (11α-OHP), or 11α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione is an endogenous steroid and metabolite of progesterone. It is a weak antiandrogen, and is devoid of androgenic, estrogenic, and progestogenic activity. 11α-OHP was in ...

(11α-OHP), 11β-OHP has been identified as a very potent

competitive Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indivi ...

inhibitor of both isoforms ( 1 and 2) of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD).

Outcome of 21-hydroxylase deficiency

It has been known since 1987 that increased levels of 11β-OHP occur in

21-hydroxylase deficiency Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, in all its forms, accounts for over 95% of diagnosed cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and CAH in most contexts refers to 21-hydroxylase deficiency and different mutat ...

. A study in 2017 has shown that in subjects with 21-hydroxylase deficiency, serum 11β-OHP concentrations range from 0.012 to 3.37 ng/mL, while in control group it was below detection limit of 0.012 ng/mL.

21-hydroxylase Steroid 21-hydroxylase (also known as steroid 21-monooxygenase, cytochrome P450C21, 21α-hydroxylase and less commonly 21β-hydroxylase) is an enzyme that hydroxylates steroids at the C21 position and is involved in biosynthesis of aldosterone a ...

is an enzyme that is also involved in progesterone metabolism, producing 11-deoxycorticosterone. In normal conditions, 21-hydroxylase has higher activity on progesterone than steroid 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and

(CYP11B2) that convert progesterone to 11β-OHP. That's why in 21-hydroxylase deficiency, given the normal function of the CYP11B enzymes, the progesterone is directed towards 11β-OHP pathway rather than towards 11-deoxycorticosterone pathway, that is also usually accompanied by an increase in progesterone levels. In the normal route to aldosterone and cortisol, progesterone and

17α-hydroxyprogesterone 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP), also known as 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP), or hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), is an endogenous progestogen steroid hormone related to progesterone. It is also a chemical intermediate in the biosynthesis of many o ...

are first hydroxylated at position 21 and then hydroxylated at other positions. In 21-hydroxylase deficiency, progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone accumulate and are the substrates of steroid 11β-hydroxylase, leading to 1β-OHP and 21-deoxycortisol, respectively. In the 2017 study above mentioned, serum progesterone concentrations in boys (10 days to 18 years old) with 21-hydroxylase deficiency reached levels similar to female luteal values (up to 10.14 ng/mL, depending on severity and treatment), while in the control group of boys progesterone was 0.07 ng/mL (0.22 nmol/L) on average, ranged from 0.05 to 0.40 ng/mL. While studies suggest that 11β-OHP, also known as 21-deoxycorticosterone, can be used as marker for adrenal 21-hydroxylase deficiency, another 21-carbon steroid — 21-deoxycortisol (produced from

) gained acceptance for this purpose.

References

External links

Metabocard for 11β-Hydroxyprogesterone (HMDB04031) - Human Metabolome Database
11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitors Cyclohexanols Diketones Human metabolites Mineralocorticoids Pregnanes Enones {{steroid-stub

Function

Outcome of 21-hydroxylase deficiency

See also

References

External links