title: The roles of aldo-keto reductases in steroid hormone action.
abstract: The human aldo-keto reductase 1C (AKR1C) isozymes are implicated in the pre-receptor regulation of steroid receptors, nuclear orphan receptors and membrane-bound ligand-gated ion channels. Human AKR members that may regulate the local concentration of steroid hormones include: AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3, AKR1C4 and AKR1D1. Since, these enzymes are pluripotent, the physiological role for the human AKR1C isozymes is determined by their tissue-specific expression patterns and their substrate availability in target tissues. AKRs work in concert with short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases as switches to control ligand access to nuclear receptors. Consequently, they are potential targets in treating prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis and endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3620 Hamilton Walk, 135 John Morgan Building, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. dbauman@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steckelbroeck
authors.forename: Trevor M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Penning
mesh_terms: D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; D000074408:Aldo-Keto Reductases; D000818:Animals; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007527:Isoenzymes; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D000074408:Aldo-Keto Reductases; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase