title: 3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human aorta.
abstract: 3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) is known to be involved in steroid production and/or metabolism and to be expressed in many tissues including adrenal cortex. Expression of this enzyme has also been elucidated in human cardiovascular system but its details remain largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, we examined the status of 3beta-HSD in postmortem human aorta utilizing RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Both mRNAs and immunoreactivity for the enzyme were detected predominantly in female aorta, and in those with mild atherosclerotic changes. In addition, immunohistochemical study demonstrated that immunoreactivity for 3beta-HSD was detected in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of aorta. These findings all indicated that steroidogenesis via 3beta-HSD may occur in VSMCs of human aorta, possibly related to gender differences and/or the degree of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tazawa
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Shoki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasano
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001011:Aorta / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases