Intracrinology and the local enzymatic control of hormone distribution and metabolism: dehydroepiandrosterone does not just act as a prohormone for androgens and estrogens.
The study of subcellular environments for the interaction of biomolecules and observations of certain features of hormone actions have nourished the concept of 'intracrinology', which describes hormone actions within a singular cell, in contrast to the well-described autocrine, paracrine and endocrine fashion. Synthesis and metabolism of DHEA make it a likely candidate for intracrine actions in target tissues. Recent experimental findings are reviewed in this context.
Deutsches Diabetes-Forschungs Institut an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Kühn-Velten
D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate