title: Expression of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and P450 side chain cleavage enzyme in the human uterine endometrium.
abstract: The enzyme complex 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta5-Delta4-isomerase (3beta-HSD) is involved in the biosynthesis of all classes of active steroids. The expression of 3b-HSD in human uterine endometrium during the menstrual cycle and decidua was examined in an effort to understand its role during ova implantation. 3beta-HSD was weakly expressed in the glandular epithelium of the proliferative phase and moderately expressed in the glandular epithelium of secretory phase of the endometrium. In the decidua of the ectopic pregnancy, 3beta-HSD was strongly expressed. The human uterine endometrial 3beta-HSD was identified as being the same type as the placental 3beta-HSD by RT-PCR and sequence analysis. In addition to the expression of 3beta-HSD, P450scc was expressed in the decidua of the ectopic pregnancy. These results suggest that pregnenolone might be synthesized from cholesterol by P450scc de novo and then, it is converted to progesterone by 3beta-HSD in the uterine endometrium. The data implies that the endometrial 3beta-HSD can use not only the out-coming pregnenolone from the adrenal gland but also the self- made pregnenolone to produce progesterone. The de novo synthesis of progesterone in the endometrium might be a crucial factor for implantation and maintenance of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Mizbebe Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Natural Sciences and Institute of Basic Natural Sciences, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chunbuk 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Seon Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Bum Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Dong Min
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Byung Hun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung Bae
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Won Sin
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003656:Decidua / Q000201:enzymology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013251:Steroid Isomerases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C021425:3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011374:Progesterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D002784:Cholesterol; D011375:Progesterone Reductase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D013251:Steroid Isomerases