REVIEW: 3alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase in Animal and Human Tissues

W. G. Degtiar^* and N. E. Kushlinsky

Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Blokhin Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Kashirskoe Shosse 24, Moscow, 115478 Russia; fax: (095) 324-6352

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 25, 2000; Revision received November 3, 2000

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This review analyzes data on the biological role of 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSD) in animal and human tissues and describes its main characteristics, mechanism of action, and regulation of activity. Based on published data, a scheme for the actions of androgen, progestin, and glucocorticoids involving the participation of 3alpha-HSD is proposed. According to this scheme, in the mechanism of steroid action 3alpha-HSD not only regulates the concentration of the main effector androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, in target cells, but also switches androgen, progestin, and glucocorticosteroid genomic activity to non-genomic activity.

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KEY WORDS: 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, structure, mechanism of action, biological role

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