The human aldo-keto reductase AKR1C2 converts 5α-dihydrotestosterone to the less active 3α-androstanediol and has a minor 20-ketosteroid reductase activity that metabolises progesterone to 20α-hydroxyprogesterone. AKR1C2 is expressed in dif…
Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. This disease is associated with diminished protective effects of progesterone, which are usually explained by inadequate activation of pro…
Human aldo-keto reductases 1C1-1C4 (AKR1C1-AKR1C4) function in vivo as 3-keto-, 17-keto-, and 20-ketosteroid reductases and regulate the activity of androgens, estrogens, and progesterone and the occupancy and transactivation of their corre…
Endometriosis is a very common disease that is characterized by increased formation of estradiol and disturbed progesterone action. This latter is usually explained by a lack of progesterone receptor B (PR-B) expression, while the role of p…
BACKGROUND: Human 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β-HSD1) acts at a pre-receptor level. It catalyzes NADPH-dependent reduction of the weak estrogen estrone into the most potent estrogen estradiol, which exerts its proliferative e…
In the search for novel biomarkers of endometriosis, we selected 152 genes from the GeneLogic database based on results of genome-wide expression analysis of ovarian endometriosis, plus 20 genes related to estrogen metabolism and action. We…
Dydrogesterone is widely used for menstrual disorders, endometriosis, threatened and habitual abortion and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. Although progestins have a promiscuous nature, dydrogesterone does not have clinically re…
Human hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) AKR1C1 is a member of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, and it functions mainly as a 20alpha-HSD. It catalyzes the reduction of the potent progesterone to the weak 20alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and…
Endometriosis is a complex estrogen-dependent disease that is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. The etiology of endometriosis is multifactorial and includes complex interactions of genetic,…
Carcinogenesis of hormone-related cancers involves hormone-stimulated cell proliferation, which increases the number of cell divisions and the opportunity for random genetic errors. In target tissues, steroid hormones are interconverted bet…
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within extrauterine sites. Estimations show that up to 15 % of women in their reproductive age areaffected. Extrauterine endometrial tissue can be found on…
Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within extrauterine sites, and it is well known that endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease. The defective formation and metabolism of steroid hormones is res…