title: Expression of 11beta-hydroxylase in rat Leydig cells.
abstract: 11Beta-hydroxy (11beta-OH) derivatives of certain steroids function as inhibitors of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform 1 (11betaHSD1), an enzyme expressed in Leydig cells that catalyzes the reversible oxidation of biologically active glucocorticoids to inactive 11-dehydro metabolites. 11beta-Hydroxylase is an adrenal enzyme responsible for glucocorticoid biosynthesis, catalyzing 11beta-hydroxylation of steroids and thus producing 11beta-OH-steroid derivatives. The aims of the present study were 1) to examine whether 11beta-hydroxylase is expressed in testis, 2) to define the biochemical characteristics of the testicular form of this enzyme, and 3) to establish whether 11beta-hydroxylated steroids inhibit Leydig cell 11betaHSD1 activities. 11beta-Hydroxylase mRNA was detected in purified rat Leydig cells by RT-PCR. Sequencing confirmed that the PCR products had 100% identity with the published rat adrenal enzyme cDNA sequence. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis using a mouse monoclonal antibody confirmed the expression of 11beta-hydroxylase protein in Leydig cells. Moreover, 11beta-hydroxylase activity, synthesis of corticosterone from 11-deoxycorticosterone, was measurable in Leydig cells, and the K(m) and maximum velocity values were 7.28 +/- 0. 92 microM and 1.13 +/- 0.04 micromol/10(6) cell x h, respectively. When assayed in Leydig cells, several 11beta-hydroxylated steroids were efficient inhibitors of 11betaHSD1 dehydrogenase activity, whereas other 11-keto compounds were effective as inhibitors of oxidoreductase activity. These results provide the first direct evidence that rat Leydig cells express 11beta-hydroxylase, which may be involved in the regulation of glucocorticoid metabolism within the testis through local biosynthesis of endogenous inhibitors of 11betaHSD1.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomedical Research, The Population Council, and Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Gui-Min
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ren-Shan
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Syed A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hardy
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000235:genetics*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids; D011374:Progesterone; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase