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Original Studies |
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics (A.J.) and MRC Blood Pressure Group (R.F., P.C.W., J.M.C.C.), Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT; Department of Pathological Biochemistry (A.M.W.), Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G4 0SF; Department of Medical Sciences (B.R.W.), University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom; and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (B.S.N., P.C.W.), Dallas, Texas 75235-9063
Address correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Robert Fraser, MRC Blood Pressure Group, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G11 6NT, Scotland; E-mail: rfraser{at}clinmed.gla.ac.uk
| Abstract |
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| Introduction |
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Despite their similar names and related function, the 11ß-HSD enzymes
are encoded by genes on different chromosomes, they belong to different
gene families, and they have contrasting coenzyme requirements (2, 3, 4, 5, 18). Congenital 11ß-HSD2 deficiency has been described in fewer than
100 cases, and a number of mutations have been identified (19, 20). By
contrast, a syndrome consistent with 11ß-HSD1 deficiency has been
described in only 3 female patients (21, 22, 23, 24), 2 of whom are siblings.
No mutation in the coding regions of the 11ß-HSD1 gene was found in
one of these patients (25). In these patients, the ratio of metabolites
of cortisol (the tetrahydrocortisols produced by 5
- and
5ß-reductase enzymes) to those of cortisone (tetrahydrocortisone
produced by 5ß-reductase) is very low. In addition, 5ß-reduced
metabolites of cortisol and cortisone are excreted in preference to
5
-reduced metabolites. As a result of enhanced peripheral clearance
of cortisol, there is less negative feedback suppression of
ACTH-dependent steroids including adrenal androgens, and the patients
present with features of adrenal androgen excess. In the absence of
confirmation of a genetic defect in 11ß-HSD1, Shackleton and
colleagues (24) termed this syndrome "apparent cortisone reductase
deficiency" and suggested that, whether the syndrome is explained by
impaired reactivation of cortisone to cortisol by 11ß-HSD1, or
whether it is enhanced inactivation of cortisol and/or cortisone by
5ß-reductase remains to be confirmed.
In this report, we describe the clinical presentation, biochemical diagnosis, and genetic analysis of a further case of apparent cortisone reductase deficiency, and we provide evidence that the primary functional defect is impaired activity of 11ß-HSD1.
| Subjects and Methods |
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A 36-yr-old woman was referred to the endocrine clinic for investigation of oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, acne, and obesity. These abnormalities had progressed since a single successful pregnancy at 28 yr of age (normal male child), and attempts at further conception (unprotected intercourse for 4 yr) had been unsuccessful. Menarche had occurred at age 14, and she had taken oral contraceptives until 6 months before conception. Gonadrotropin concentrations since pregnancy had been essentially normal, as were those of prolactin and progesterone, but plasma androstenedione concentration had been, on one occasion, mildly elevated at 10.7 nmol/L -1 (0.68.8 nmol/L). External genitalia were normal. Laparoscopic examination and magnetic resonance imaging excluded the presence of polycystic ovaries or ovarian tumor. She had also been treated with cyproterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (Dianette, Schering AG, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, UK), with no symptomatic improvement, and had had a period of clomiphene therapy, which failed to induce ovulation. She had received no therapy for more than 12 months before the referral.
At the time of referral she was plethoric and overweight (84.7 kg; body
mass index, 32 kg/m2) with central fat
distribution. Thyroid function was normal. There was evidence of old
striae but no recent bruising. There was also a marked increase in
terminal hair on the face and limbs, and acne was present on the face
and upper trunk. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed diffuse
enlargement of the adrenal glands, but plasma cortisol concentrations
and circadian rhythm were normal. A 24-h urinary steroid profile
analysis excluded any adrenal steroid biosynthetic defect. However,
tetrahydrocortisone (THE) excretion rate was massively raised on three
consecutive days (Table 1
),
while concurrent levels of cortisol metabolites were in the lower part
of the normal range. Androsterone,
etiocholanolone, and cortolone excretion
rates were also raised. On this evidence, a provisional diagnosis of
cortisone reductase deficiency was made, and additional dynamic tests
of cortisol and cortisone metabolism were undertaken.
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The effect of a standard low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (0.5 mg orally every 6 h for 48 h) on plasma and urinary steroid levels was examined, and the ability of the patient to convert cortisone to cortisol was also evaluated. For the latter assessment, endogenous cortisol secretion was suppressed (0.25 mg dexamethasone at just before midnight), and the fasting patient was given cortisone acetate (25 mg orally). Plasma samples were taken before and at intervals of 15 min, until 150 min afterwards for measurement of cortisol and cortisone concentrations. A 24-h urine collection was made before and during the test. Blood samples were taken for DNA extraction from the patient, and DNA and 24-h urine collections were obtained from her two sisters, her brother and her father.
Normative data
The dynamic test of conversion of oral cortisone to plasma cortisol was also performed in 10 healthy women (mean age 29 yr, range 2040 yr) during the menstrual phase of their cycle (confirmed by measurement of estradiol and progesterone).
Analytical methods
Urinary steroid excretion rates were measured by capillary column chromatography of steroid methyloxime-trimethylsilyl ether derivatives followed by mass spectrometry on a Fisons MD800 mass spectrometer (Fisons Scientific Equipment, Loughborough Leics., UK) (26). These measurements were repeated on baseline urine samples in another laboratory with measurement of urine free cortisol and cortisone, as previously described (27). Plasma cortisol and cortisone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after HPLC separation (28). Commercial radioimmunoassay kits were used to measure plasma concentrations of testosterone (Bayer Corp. Immuno-1, Newbury Berks., UK), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS), (INCSTAR Corp., Wokingham Berks., UK), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (Pharmacia Biosystems Ltd., Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK). Androstenedione was measured by the radioimmunoassay of Thomson et al. (29).
Total genomic DNA was extracted from patient samples and PCR amplification, and direct sequencing of all exons and intron/exon boundaries of the 11ß-HSD1 gene WAS performed as previously reported (25).
| Results |
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Basal plasma androgen concentrations (testosterone,
androstenedione, and DHAS) were elevated but plasma cortisol was
normal. All of these were suppressed normally after administration of
low-dose dexamethasone (Table 2
).
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-reduced metabolites (5
-tetrahydrocortisol; 5
-THF)
than for 5ß-reduced metabolites (5ß-THF) (see Fig 1
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Analysis of the 11ß-HSD1 gene
Analysis of the coding region and intron/exon boundaries of the 11ß-HSD1 gene revealed no sequence deviation from the known human consensus sequence in the patient or her relatives.
| Discussion |
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-THF + 5ß-THF]/THE) favors
the inactive steroid, cortisone. The normal ratio of urinary free
cortisol/cortisone and the absence of mineralocorticoid excess
effectively exclude the possibility that the syndrome is accounted for
by enhanced 11ß-HSD2 activity in the kidney (27, 30). It is therefore
more likely that the syndrome is the result of 11ß-HSD1
deficiency.
However, there are two observations that complicate this
interpretation. First, we have confirmed a previous observation in one
patient (25) that there is no coding mutation in the 11ß-HSD1 gene in
this syndrome. Second, as in previous cases, there are marked changes
in relative excretion of 5
-reduced and 5ß-reduced metabolites in
this syndrome. Specifically, 5
-reduction of cortisol, represented by
the cortisol/5
-THF ratio (31), is impaired, while 5ß-reduction of
both cortisol and cortisone (represented by cortisol/5ß-THF and
cortisone/THE ratios) is markedly enhanced. Altered relative activities
of 5
- and 5ß-reductases have been reported in association with
altered 11ß-HSD activities in both congenital and pharmacological
11ß-HSD2 deficiency (6, 7, 8, 9). The mechanism for the link between
activities of these enzymes has not been elucidated. It is possible
that the apparent cortisone reductase deficiency syndrome could be
explained by a primary increase in 5ß-reductase metabolism of
cortisone (24). However, in our patient, cortisone administration
resulted in a supranormal rise in plasma cortisone concentration and a
subnormal rise in cortisol concentration (Fig. 2
), highly suggestive that impaired
11ß-HSD1 activity is the major defect accounting for impaired
generation of cortisol.
In the absence of a mutation in the coding region of the 11ß-HSD1
gene, it remains unclear why enzyme activity is impaired. The gene
defect could lie in a more remote control region, or some other aspect
of the 11ß-HSD1 reaction, such as cofactor availability, could be
affected. The urinary excretion rates of cortisol and cortisone
metabolites in the father and son of the patient described here were
normal, suggesting either that the defect is autosomal recessive or,
alternatively, that it is acquired. The patient had previously been
fertile, and the clinical features of androgen excess had developed
during the 4 yr preceding referral. This, together with the lack of
evidence of a gene defect in the patient or in her immediate relatives,
raises the possibility of an acquired defect. However, at present no
physiological or pharmacological cause of such an inhibition has been
identified. Licorice derivatives inhibit both 11ß-HSD1 and -HSD2
activity, but the net effect is to raise the ratio of cortisol to
cortisone metabolites (9). This patient denied taking these substances.
Endogenous inhibitors of 11ß-HSDs have been extracted from human
urine but are hypothesized to have similar effects to licorice (32).
Finally, adipose tissue possesses 11ß-HSD1 activity (14, 15), and
altered cortisol metabolism may accompany obesity (35), including
subjects with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (33, 34). However, none
of the patients in these previous studies had such dramatic alterations
in cortisol metabolism as we observed in this case. Moreover, obesity
is associated with enhanced 5
-reductase rather than 5ß-reductase
activity, and normal women have higher apparent 5
-reductase activity
than normal men (36). It seems most likely that her clinical syndrome
was aggravated by, rather than caused by, her weight gain.
The most appropriate therapeutic option is uncertain. Adrenal androgen production was successfully suppressed by dexamethasone, indicating normal negative feedback regulation of pituitary function. While this may offer a possible therapeutic option for long-term use, its benefit in reducing hair growth must be weighed against the deleterious effects on weight and suppression of the endogenous hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis.
In summary, we have identified a further patient with apparent cortisone reductase deficiency and provided evidence supporting the interpretation that it is caused by an impaired ability to convert cortisone to cortisol and a consequent increase in ACTH-driven androgen production. The defect does not appear to reside in the coding region of the 11-HSD1 gene, raising the possibility that other inherited or acquired defects may affect the ability of this crucial enzyme system to maintain tissue cortisol concentrations.
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| Footnotes |
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Received April 12, 1999.
Revised June 15, 1999.
Accepted June 21, 1999.
| References |
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-Reductase activity in polycystic ovary disease. Lancet. 335:431433.[CrossRef][Medline]
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