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Biomedicines
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Molecular Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Action—2nd Edition
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Molecular Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Action—2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology and Metabolism Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 4106

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Omar Cauli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Chair of Active Ageing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
2. Frailty and Cognitive Impairment—FROG Research Group, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: cognitive impairment; frailty syndrome; neurodevelopemntal disorders; depression; neuropathy; sleep; envirnomental factors; comorbidty; immune alterations; metabolic alterations; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Steroid hormones are a versatile and structurally diverse class of molecules. They exert their effects as hormones, as cellular building material, and as signaling molecules in multiple processes. Recent studies have shown that steroids have pleiotropic effects and previously unknown physiological functions. They are involved in disease pathophysiology and play a pivotal role in inflammatory processes. Steroid-based therapy is frequently used in the treatment of several disorders, such as endocrine disorders, auto-immune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Consolidated pharmacological approaches, as well as new clinical indications, are emerging for steroid-based therapy, and basic studies on their new mechanisms of action are warranted. This Special Issue is devoted to providing an update on research into steroid actions in the body and steroid-based therapy, from molecular perspectives to preclinical and clinical studies.

Dr. Omar Cauli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • oestrogen
  • androgens
  • thyroid
  • adrenal gland
  • menopause
  • cancer

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2449 KiB  
Article
Endocrine-Disrupting Activities of Flavones on Steroid Receptors: Structural Requirements and Synthesis of Novel Flavone with Improved Estrogenic Activity
by Steven K. Nordeen, Vijay Kumar, Betty J. Bona, Joshua D. Batson, Donald S. Backos and Michael F. Wempe
Biomedicines 2025, 13(3), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13030748 - 19 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Flavonoids are common ubiquitous components of plants and are consumed by humans and livestock in their diets. Many different activities have been proposed for a variety of flavonoids that play a role in the benefits of a plant-rich diet. On the downside, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Flavonoids are common ubiquitous components of plants and are consumed by humans and livestock in their diets. Many different activities have been proposed for a variety of flavonoids that play a role in the benefits of a plant-rich diet. On the downside, excessive exposure to some flavonoids comes with a risk of endocrine disruption. Our objective was to define the structural elements of flavones and selected other flavonoids required for endocrine-disrupting activities on each of four steroid receptors, estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors. Methods: This work presents a systematic screen for the hormone agonist or antagonist activity of a selected panel of flavonoids on estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors. The screen is focused on the positional requirements of hydroxyl substituents on the flavone backbone. Results: Each receptor exhibited a distinct pattern for structural requirements of the flavones to impact receptor signaling. The most active flavones exhibited antagonist activity on androgen and progesterone receptors with an IC50 of 0.5 and 2 µM, respectively. Flavones only exhibited weak antagonism on glucocorticoid receptors. When active, flavones acted as estrogen receptor agonists. The findings were utilized to design and synthesize a novel flavone, 3-fluoro, 6,4′-dihydroxyflavone 14, that displays increased potency as an estrogen agonist (EC50~30 nM). Modeling of the binding of this novel flavone predicts increased preference for ERα versus ERβ relative to the estrogenic phytoestrogen, genistein. Conclusions: The structural requirements for flavones to act as estrogen agonists and antagonists of other steroid receptors are defined. The synthesis of a novel flavone offers potential for topical applications where systemic estrogen activity is undesired. However, the results highlight the potential for endocrine disruption when certain flavones are consumed in quantity as supplements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Action—2nd Edition)
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Review

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23 pages, 1415 KiB  
Review
Molecular, Pathophysiological, and Clinical Aspects of Corticosteroid-Induced Neuropsychiatric Effects: From Bench to Bedside
by Sara Sofía-Avendaño-Lopez, Angela Johanna Rodríguez-Marín, Mateo Lara-Castillo, Juanita Agresott-Carrillo, Luna Estefanía Lara-Cortés, Juan Felipe Sánchez-Almanzar, Sophya Villamil-Cruz, Luis Carlos Rojas-Rodríguez, Daniel Felipe Ariza-Salamanca, Mariana Gaviria-Carrillo, Carlos Alberto Calderon-Ospina and Jesús Rodríguez-Quintana
Biomedicines 2024, 12(9), 2131; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12092131 - 19 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2522
Abstract
Corticosteroids are frequently prescribed across medical disciplines, yet they are associated with various adverse effects, including neuropsychiatric symptoms, documented since their introduction over 60 years ago. The cellular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms are complex and somewhat obscure, involving multiple pathways. Notably, they include [...] Read more.
Corticosteroids are frequently prescribed across medical disciplines, yet they are associated with various adverse effects, including neuropsychiatric symptoms, documented since their introduction over 60 years ago. The cellular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms are complex and somewhat obscure, involving multiple pathways. Notably, they include changes in excitability, cellular death of hippocampal and striatal neurons, and increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Clinical presentation varies, encompassing affective disorders (anxiety, euphoria, depression), psychotic episodes, and cognitive deficits. It is crucial to note that these manifestations often go unnoticed by treating physicians, leading to delayed detection of severe symptoms, complications, and underreporting. Discontinuation of corticosteroids constitutes the cornerstone of treatment, resolving symptoms in up to 80% of cases. Although the literature on this topic is scant, isolated cases and limited studies have explored the efficacy of psychotropic medications for symptomatic control and prophylaxis. Pharmacological intervention may be warranted in situations where corticosteroid reduction or withdrawal is not feasible or beneficial for the patient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Action—2nd Edition)
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Other

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20 pages, 1587 KiB  
Systematic Review
Normal Weight, Overweight and Obesity Conditions Associated to Prostate Neoplasm Stages—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Elsa Vitale, Alessandro Rizzo, Kurvatteppa Halemani, Asha P. Shetty, Omar Cauli, Francesco Massari and Matteo Santoni
Biomedicines 2025, 13(5), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051182 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 263
Abstract
Background/Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the second-most common cancer among men worldwide. Obesity is generally considered as a risk factor for cancer and it has been associated with a 20–30% increased risk of PCa death. The present systematic review and meta-analyses aimed to [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the second-most common cancer among men worldwide. Obesity is generally considered as a risk factor for cancer and it has been associated with a 20–30% increased risk of PCa death. The present systematic review and meta-analyses aimed to highlight any existing trends between prostate neoplasm stages according to normal weight, overweight and obesity conditions. Methods: All interventional records such as randomized clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies and observational studies were included in the present systematic review and meta-analysis which reported PCa stages according to Gleason (GS) or TNM scores according to the BMI-related incidence, as normal weight, overweight and obesity groups. Results: Twenty-nine studies were included in the present study. As regards the GS scoring system, 1.09% of high grade in GS was reported among PCa normal weights. Among PCa overweights, 0.98% of low grade was registered in GS. The same trend was recorded among obese PCa patients, since 0.79% of low grade in GS was also registered. As regards TNM scores, both normal weight, overweight and obese PCa patients registered a significant incidence in non-advanced TNM score, without any significant differences considering higher TNM assessments. Conclusions: Although the literature seemed to be more in favor of associations between BMI and GS, no specific mechanisms were highlighted between obesity and PCa progression. In this regard, the low androgen microenvironment in obese men could play an important role, but further studies will be necessary in this direction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Steroid Hormone Action—2nd Edition)
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