Microbial transformation of steroid

When studying the transformation reactions of Δ⁴-3-ketosteroids of the pregnane series by strains ofStreptomyces fradiae, 6β-hydroxy-or 6β, 11α-dihydroxy-derivatives were found to be the main metabolites. From the aspect of the taxonomy of Actinomycetes, these reactions can be utilized in classification of the species, since study of different strains ofStreptomyces fradiae showed that this property is stable and that it is characteristic for the given species.     

Mechanisms of steroid resistance

A method is described for the rapid determination of binding capacity and subcellular distribution of radioactive dexamethasone by cultured lymphoma cells. Using it, a number of steroid-resistant lymphoma cell clones were shown to be deficient in steroid binding to specific cytoplasmic receptors (r-) in transfer of the receptor-steroid complex to nuclei (nt-), or in the reactions subsequent to nuclear localization of the complex (d-). The relative proportions of those types of variants were determined in a steady-state population. About 80% were r-, and the remainder were equally divided between nt- and d-. Quantitative steroid-binding experiments suggest that certain receptor-containing variants possess altered receptor molecules.     

Illicit anabolic-androgenic steroid use

The anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are a family of hormones that includes testosterone and its derivatives. These substances have been used by elite athletes since the 1950s, but they did not become widespread drugs of abuse in the general population until the 1980s. Thus, knowledge of the medical and behavioral effects of illicit AAS use is still evolving. Surveys suggest that many millions of boys and men, primarily in Western countries, have abused AAS to enhance athletic performance or personal appearance. AAS use among girls and women is much less common. Taken in supraphysiologic doses, AAS show various long-term adverse medical effects, especially cardiovascular toxicity. Behavioral effects of AAS include hypomanic or manic symptoms, sometimes accompanied by aggression or violence, which usually occur while taking AAS, and depressive symptoms occurring during AAS withdrawal. However, these symptoms are idiosyncratic and afflict only a minority of illicit users; the mechanism of these idiosyncratic responses remains unclear. AAS users may also ingest a range of other illicit drugs, including both “body image” drugs to enhance physical appearance or performance, and classical drugs of abuse. In particular, AAS users appear particularly prone to opioid use. There may well be a biological basis for this association, since both human and animal data suggest that AAS and opioids may share similar brain mechanisms. Finally, AAS may cause a dependence syndrome in a substantial minority of users. AAS dependence may pose a growing public health problem in future years but remains little studied.     

Genetic heterogeneity of steroid sulfatase deficiency revealed with cDNA for human steroid sulfatase

Three cDNA clones with inserts of 1.2-1.6 kb that reacted both with antibodies and oligonucleotides specific for steroid sulfatase were isolated from a human placental library in lambda gt11. The 5'-end of one of the inserts, STS-3, was sequenced and colinearity with the amino acid sequence of 3 peptides of steroid sulfatase encompassing 64 amino acids was demonstrated. STS-3 hybridized with 2.5, 4.6 and 6.3 kb species in poly(A)+RNA and with 2.5, 4 and 9 kb fragments of EcoRI digested human DNA. The frequency of the EcoRI fragments in DNA from females was approximately twice that in DNA from males. DNA from two patients with steroid sulfatase deficiency and X-linked ichthyosis did not hybridize with STS-3. DNA from a third patient showed a normal hybridization pattern. It is concluded that steroid sulfatase deficiency is a genetically heterogenous disorder.