title: Androgen metabolism by isolated human axillary apocrine glands in hidradenitis suppurativa.
abstract: Androgen metabolism was investigated in normal human apocrine glands and in those isolated from age-matched patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. Axillary glands were isolated by shearing and androgen interconverting enzyme activities were measured in cell-free homogenates by incubation with [3H] dehydroepiandrosterone, [3H] androstenedione and [3H] testosterone. The activities (pmol/mg protein/min: mean + SEM) of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase delta 4-5-isomerase (10.0 +/- 1.2 vs. 5.3 +/- 0.5: n = 5) and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (58.1 +/- 4.5 vs. 35.7 +/- 5.2: n = 5) were significantly lower (P less than 0.005) in hidradenitis suppurativa, whereas 5 alpha-reductase activity (12.5 +/- 2.3 vs. 12.5 +/- 2.0: n = 5) was similar. This report suggests that hidradenitis suppurativa cannot be attributed to exaggerated activities of end-organ androgen interconverting enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Oxford, U.K.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kealey
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000378:metabolism; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001365:Axilla; D046508:Culture Techniques; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013543:Sweat Gland Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase