Danazol. A synthetic steroid with diverse biologic effects
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Danazol, a synthetic steroid, inhibits gonadotropins and steroidogenesis, displays immunoregulatory effects, and induces amenorrhea and endometrial atrophy in endometriosis by binding to steroid transport proteins and receptors.
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Abstract
Danocrine (danazol) is a synthetic steroid with multiple and diverse biologic effects. It exerts these effects by binding to steroid transport proteins in the circulation and to specific receptors in target tissues. Centrally, danazol inhibits gonadotropins, suppressing gametogenesis and steroidogenesis. Gonadal and adrenal steroidogenesis are suppressed further through danazol's direct effect on specific enzyme systems. Danazol also displays immunoregulatory effects both in vivo and in vitro. In endometriosis, danazol induces amenorrhea and a hypoestrogenic state, resulting in endometrial atrophy. The drug's direct binding to androgen and progesterone receptors in endometriotic tissue may contribute further to the suppression of endometriosis. In women with endometriosis who produce autoantibodies against endometrial cells and endometrial cell-derived phospholipids, histones and nucleotides, danazol may improve reproductive performance through the suppression of abnormal autoantibody levels. In several other autoimmune and genetic disorders danazol brings about a clinical improvement by lowering abnormal autoantibody production or by increasing the concentration of genetically deficient protein. In order to explore the full clinical potential of the drug and to better understand danazol's mechanism of action and especially its immunoregulatory effects in autoimmune diseases and endometriosis, further investigation is necessary.
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Cited by (25)
- Danazol 2022
- Exploring the Impact of Intestinal Fluid Components on the Solubility and Supersaturation of Danazol 2021
- Danazol mediates collateral sensitivity via STAT3/Myc related pathway in multidrug-resistant cancer cells 2019
- Danazol induces prolonged survival of fully allogeneic cardiac grafts and maintains the generation of regulatory CD4(+) cells in mice 2012
- Functional analyses of endometriosis-related polymorphisms in the estrogen synthesis and metabolism-related genes 2012
- Evaluation of the efficacy of a danazol-loaded intrauterine contraceptive device on adenomyosis in an ICR mouse model 2008
- Effect of danazol on NK cells and cytokines in the mouse uterus 2007
- Maintenance therapy involving a tapering dose of danazol or mid/low doses of oral contraceptive after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment for endometriosis-associated pelvic pain 2007
- Effects of danazol on endothelial cell function and angiogenesis 2007
- Endometriosis 2003
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and danazol normalize aromatase cytochrome P450 expression in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis, adenomyosis, or leiomyomas 2003
- Hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia after long-term use of danazol for endometriosis: a case report 2002
- Effect of hormonal agents on monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression by endometrial epithelial cells of women with endometriosis 2000
- Medical treatment of endometriosis 1999
- A preliminary immunopharmacological study of an antiendometriotic herbal medicine, Keishi-bukuryo-gan 1998
- A Study of the Complexation Between Danazol and Hydrophilic Cyclodextrin Derivatives 1996
- Characterization and bioavailability of danazol-hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin coprecipitates 1996
- Bioavailability of danazol-hydroxypropyl-β-cylodextrin complex by different routes of administration 1996
- Effect of danazol on the immunocompetent cells in the eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis: a multicenter cooperative study 1996
- Changes in bone mineral content following hormone treatment for endometriosis 1995
- The Role of Medical Management in the Treatment of Endometriosis 1995
- Therapeutic effects of danazol on endometrial cells may be activated by the presence of extracellular matrix 1993
- Hormone treatment related bone mineral content changes in Japanese women with endometriosis 1993
- Endometriosis. Diagnostic clues and new treatment options 1992
- Danazol increases the anticoagulant effect of warfarin 1992
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