title: DHEA induces 11 -HSD2 by acting on CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins.
abstract: 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) type 1 and type 2 catalyze the interconversion of inactive and active glucocorticoids. Impaired regulation of these enzymes has been associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Previous studies in animals and humans suggested that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has antiglucocorticoid effects, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, DHEA treatment markedly increased mRNA expression and activity of 11beta-HSD2 in a rat cortical collecting duct cell line and in kidneys of C57BL/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. DHEA-treated rats tended to have reduced urinary corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone ratios. It was found that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-alpha) and C/EBP-beta regulated HSD11B2 transcription and that DHEA likely modulated the transcription of 11beta-HSD2 in a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt-dependent manner by increasing C/EBP-beta mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, it is shown that C/EBP-alpha and C/EBP-beta differentially regulate the expression of 11beta-HSD1 and 11beta-HSD2. In conclusion, DHEA induces a shift from 11beta-HSD1 to 11beta-HSD2 expression, increasing conversion from active to inactive glucocorticoids. This provides a possible explanation for the antiglucocorticoid effects of DHEA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Balazs
authors.forename: Roberto A S
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: Felix J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rohner-Jeanrenaud
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odermatt
mesh_terms: D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D007685:Kidney Tubules, Collecting / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2