New study finds sex steroids are locally produced in joints
A new study has found that sex steroids are locally produced in joints. This is the first evidence that articular chondrocytes expressed steroidogenesis-related enzyme genes and that they are capable of locally synthesizing sex steroid hormones from DHEA. These findings may have implications for the understanding and treatment of conditions like osteoarthritis.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism used a combination of cell culture, molecular biology, and biochemistry techniques to investigate the potential for joint tissue to produce sex steroids. The authors found that articular chondrocytes expressed multiple genes involved in steroidogenesis, including those encoding key enzymes required for the production of testosterone and estradiol from cholesterol.
In addition, the authors found that chondrocytes synthesized and released significant amounts of testosterone and estradiol when cultured in the presence of DHEA, a precursor hormone. These findings suggest that articular chondrocytes have the ability to locally produce sex steroids from DHEA.
The implications of these findings are not yet clear, but they may have implications for the understanding and treatment of conditions like osteoarthritis. In particular, further research is needed to determine whether local production of sex steroids by joint tissues plays a role in the development or progression of this condition.
Conclusion:
This new study provides the first evidence that articular chondrocytes expressed steroidogenesis-related enzyme genes and that they are capable of locally synthesizing sex steroid hormones from DHEA. These findings may have implications for the understanding and treatment of conditions like osteoarthritis. However, further research is needed to determine whether local production of sex steroids by joint tissues plays a role in the development or progression of this condition.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17473054/