Regulators of Human Androgen Biosynthesis

Androgens are essential for sexual development and reproduction. However, androgen regulation in health and disease is poorly understood. Previously, we showed that human adrenocortical H295R cells grown under starvation conditions acquire a hyperandrogenic steroid profile with changes in steroid metabolizing enzymes HSD3B2 and CYP17A1 essential for androgen production. Furthermore, we have shown that metformin inhibits androgen production of steroidogenic H295R cells and inhibits complex I activity of the respriatory chain. Therefore, to search for underlying mechanisms regulting androgen production and to understand the basic biology of androgens, we have characterized the gene expression profile of H295R cells grown under normal growth conditions, serum starvation (hyperandrogenic) growth conditions as well as after metformin treatment (hypoandrogenic).

9

Udhane SS, Pandey AV, Hofer G, Mullis PE, Flück CE