Endometrial Intracrinology: Oestrogens, Androgens and Endometrial Disorders
Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 3276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103276
Received: 30 August 2018
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Revised: 5 October 2018
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Accepted: 15 October 2018
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Published: 22 October 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Research of Endometrial Pathophysiology)
Peripheral tissue metabolism of steroids (intracrinology) is now accepted as a key way in which tissues, such as the endometrium, can utilise inactive steroids present in the blood to respond to local physiological demands and ‘fine-tune’ the activation or inhibition of steroid hormone receptor-dependent processes. Expression of enzymes that play a critical role in the activation and inactivation of bioactive oestrogens (E1, E2) and androgens (A4, T, DHT), as well as expression of steroid hormone receptors, has been detected in endometrial tissues and cells recovered during the menstrual cycle. There is robust evidence that increased expression of aromatase is important for creating a local microenvironment that can support a pregnancy. Measurement of intra-tissue concentrations of steroids using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry has been important in advancing our understanding of a role for androgens in the endometrium, acting both as active ligands for the androgen receptor and as substrates for oestrogen biosynthesis. The emergence of intracrinology, associated with disordered expression of key enzymes such as aromatase, in the aetiology of common women’s health disorders such as endometriosis and endometrial cancer has prompted renewed interest in the development of drugs targeting these pathways, opening up new opportunities for targeted therapies and precision medicine.
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Keywords:
decidualisation; oestradiol; aromatase; testosterone; dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA); endometriosis; endometrial cancer; sulfatase
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MDPI and ACS Style
Gibson, D.A.; Simitsidellis, I.; Collins, F.; Saunders, P.T.K. Endometrial Intracrinology: Oestrogens, Androgens and Endometrial Disorders. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 3276. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103276
AMA Style
Gibson DA, Simitsidellis I, Collins F, Saunders PTK. Endometrial Intracrinology: Oestrogens, Androgens and Endometrial Disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018; 19(10):3276. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103276
Chicago/Turabian StyleGibson, Douglas A., Ioannis Simitsidellis, Frances Collins, and Philippa T.K. Saunders. 2018. "Endometrial Intracrinology: Oestrogens, Androgens and Endometrial Disorders" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19, no. 10: 3276. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103276
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