The major reactions catalyzed by 17β-HSD (e.g., the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone) are in fact hydrogenation (reduction) rather than dehydrogenation (oxidation) reactions.
Reactions
17β-HSDs have been known to catalyze the following redox reactions of sex steroids:
HSD17B1: Referred to as "estrogenic". Major subtype for activation of estrogens from weaker forms (estrone to estradiol and 16α-hydroxyestrone to estriol). Catalyzes the final step in the biosynthesis of estrogens. Highly selective for estrogens; 100-fold higher affinity for estranes over androstanes. However, also catalyzes the conversion of DHEA into androstenediol.[10] Recently, has been found to inactivate DHT into 3α- and 3β-androstanediol.[10][11] Expressed primarily in the ovaries and placenta but also at lower levels in the breast epithelium.[12][10] Major isoform of 17β-HSD in the granulosa cells of the ovaries.[13] Mutations and associated deficiency have not been reported in humans.[14] Knockout mice show altered ovarian sex steroid production, normal puberty, and severe subfertility due to defective luteinization and ovarian progesterone production.[15]
HSD17B2: Describable as "antiestrogenic" and "antiandrogenic".[16] Major subtype for inactivation of estrogens and androgens into weaker forms (estradiol to estrone, testosterone to androstenedione, and androstenediol to DHEA). Also converts inactive 20α-hydroxyprogesterone into active progesterone. Preferential activity on androgens. Expressed widely in the body including in the liver, intestines, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, endometrium, prostate, breast epithelium, placenta, and bone.[10][17][12] Said to be responsible for 17β-HSD activity in the endometrium and placenta.[18] Mutations and associated congenital deficiency have not been reported in humans.[14] However, local deficiency in expression of HSD17B2 has been associated with endometriosis.[19]
HSD17B3: Referred to as "androgenic". Major subtype in males for activation of androgens from weaker forms (androstenedione to testosterone and DHEA to androstenediol). Also activates estrogens from weaker forms to a lesser extent (estrone to estradiol). This is essential for testicular but not ovarian production of testosterone. Not expressed in the ovaries, where another 17β-HSD subtype, likely HSD17B5, is expressed instead. Mutations are associated with 17β-HSD type III deficiency. Males with this condition have pseudohermaphroditism, while females are normal with normal androgen and estrogen levels.[17][12]
HSD17B4: Also known as D-bifunctional protein (DBP). Involved in fatty acidβ-oxidation and steroid metabolism (specifically estrone to estradiol, for instance in the uterus).[20] Mutations are associated with DBP deficiency and Perrault syndrome (ovarian dysgenesis and deafness).[20]
HSD17B5: Also known as aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3), encoded by the AKR1C3 gene in humans. Has 3α-HSDTooltip 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 20α-HSDTooltip 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in addition to 17β-HSD activity. Expressed in the adrenal cortex and may act as the "androgenic" 17β-HSD in ovarian thecal cells. Also expressed in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and Leydig cells.[12]
HSD17B7: Is involved in cholesterol metabolism but is also thought to activate estrogens (estrone to estradiol) and inactivate androgens (dihydrotestosterone to androstanediol).[12] Expressed in the ovaries, breasts, placenta, testes, prostate gland, and liver.[12]
HSD17B8: Inactivates estradiol, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone, though can also convert estrone into estradiol. Expressed in the ovaries, testes, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and other tissues.[22][23]
^Dahm K, Breuer H (1964). "Anreicherung einer 17β-hydroxysteroid:NAD(P)-oxydoreduktase aus der Nebenniere der Ratte" [Precipitation of a 17-Beta-Hydroxysteroid:Nad(P) Oxidoreductase from the Rat Adrenal Gland]. Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift für Physiologische Chemie (in German). 336: 63–8. doi:10.1515/bchm2.1964.336.1.63. PMID14214322.
^Labrie F, Luu-The V, Lin SX, Labrie C, Simard J, Breton R, Bélanger A (January 1997). "The key role of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in sex steroid biology". Steroids. 62 (1): 148–58. doi:10.1016/S0039-128X(96)00174-2. PMID9029730. S2CID54365519.
^Martel C, Rhéaume E, Takahashi M, Trudel C, Couët J, Luu-The V, Simard J, Labrie F (March 1992). "Distribution of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene expression and activity in rat and human tissues". J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 41 (3–8): 597–603. doi:10.1016/0960-0760(92)90390-5. PMID1314080. S2CID54325300.
^Kikuti YY, Tamiya G, Ando A, Chen L, Kimura M, Ferreira E, Tsuji K, Trowsdale J, Inoko H (June 1997). "Physical mapping 220 kb centromeric of the human MHC and DNA sequence analysis of the 43-kb segment including the RING1, HKE6, and HKE4 genes". Genomics. 42 (3): 422–35. doi:10.1006/geno.1997.4745. PMID9205114.
^Lidén M, Tryggvason K, Eriksson U (December 2003). "Structure and function of retinol dehydrogenases of the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase family". Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 24 (6): 403–9. doi:10.1016/s0098-2997(03)00036-0. PMID14585311.
^Su W, Mao Z, Liu Y, Zhang X, Zhang W, Gustafsson J, Guan Y (2019). "Role of HSD17B13 in the liver physiology and pathophysiology". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 489: 119–125. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2018.10.014. PMID30365983.
^Marchais-Oberwinkler S, Henn C, Möller G, Klein T, Negri M, Oster A, Spadaro A, Werth R, Wetzel M, Xu K, Frotscher M, Hartmann RW, Adamski J (2011). "17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSDs) as therapeutic targets: protein structures, functions, and recent progress in inhibitor development". J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 125 (1–2): 66–82. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.12.013. PMID21193039. S2CID23767100.
^ abSoubhye J, Alard IC, van Antwerpen P, Dufrasne F (2015). "Type 2 17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as a novel target for the treatment of osteoporosis". Future Med Chem. 7 (11): 1431–56. doi:10.4155/fmc.15.74. PMID26230882.
^Ning X, Yang Y, Deng H, Zhang Q, Huang Y, Su Z, Fu Y, Xiang Q, Zhang S (2017). "Development of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 as a target in hormone-dependent prostate cancer therapy". Steroids. 121: 10–16. doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2017.02.003. PMID28267564. S2CID32062736.
^Samson M, Labrie F, and Luu-The V (23 June 2012). "Characterization of Type 15 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase". Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis & Metabolism (Translational).
^Lin B, White JT, Ferguson C, Wang S, Vessella R, Bumgarner R, True LD, Hood L, Nelson PS (2001). "Prostate short-chain dehydrogenase reductase 1 (PSDR1): a new member of the short-chain steroid dehydrogenase/reductase family highly expressed in normal and neoplastic prostate epithelium". Cancer Res. 61 (4): 1611–8. PMID11245473.
^Perspicace E, Cozzoli L, Gargano EM, Hanke N, Carotti A, Hartmann RW, Marchais-Oberwinkler S (August 2014). "Novel, potent and selective 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 inhibitors as potential therapeutics for osteoporosis with dual human and mouse activities". European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 83: 317–37. doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.06.036. PMID24974351.