title: Comparative analysis of human steroid sulfatase activity in prepubertal and postpubertal males and females.
abstract: This study analyzes the role of pre or postpubertal stage and sex on the steroid sulfatase activity of human leukocytes. The prepubertal female group (2-7 yrs) presented a higher sulfatase activity than the prepubertal male group (2-7 yrs, 1.99 +/- 0.64 vs 0.99 +/- 0.31 pmol/mg protein, respectively) (p < 0.001), with a female/male ratio of 2.01. The postpubertal subjects (15-40 yrs) showed an activity of 0.77 +/- 0.19 (females) vs 0.56 +2- 0.11 pmol/mg protein (males) and a female/male ratio of 1.37. Enzymatic activity of prepubertal subjects paired by sex was higher than the postpubertal individuals (females p < 0.001 and males p < 0.005). These findings show differences in the steroid sulfatase activity of pre and postpubertal groups suggesting the possible influence of hormones secreted since puberty on the expression of this enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, México, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cuevas-Covarrubias
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Juárez-Oropeza
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miranda-Zamora
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Díaz-Zagoya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001192:Arylsulfatases / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase
chemical_list: D001192:Arylsulfatases; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase