16α-Hydroxyprogesterone (16α-OHP), also known as 16α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, is a minor endogenous progestogen steroid hormone and a metabolite of progesterone that is formed in lower amounts than 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP).[1] It occurs in micromolar concentrations and its physiological relevance hence is questionable.[1] However, it may accumulate in target tissues and could have a physiological role in the reproductive system and mammary gland development as well as the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.[1]
16α-OHP is formed from progesterone via 16α-hydroxylation primarily by CYP17A1 and primarily in steroidogenic tissues including the adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries.[1] It is also synthesized from progesterone during pregnancy by hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes like CYP3A4 and CYP1A1 in the fetal liver as well as placenta.[1] It appears to be an end metabolite of progesterone and does not seem to be further metabolized.[1]
16α-OHP has approximately 67% and 43% of the affinity of progesterone for the PR-A and PR-B, respectively, and acts as an agonist of these receptors similarly to progesterone.[1] It was found to produce natriuresis similar to that produced by spironolactone when administered to humans, suggesting that it also has antimineralocorticoid activity similarly to progesterone.[1] However, surprisingly, 16α-OHP showed low affinity for the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) of greater than 1 μM (compared to 1 nM for progesterone) and showed no antagonism of the MR at up to a concentration of 1 μM (whereas progesterone shows potent such activity).[1] However, the findings of another study suggested that 16α-OHP antagonizes the effects of aldosterone via the MR, and it may still be possible that 16α-OHP has significant antimineralocorticoid activity in some cells in spite of its weak MR affinity.[1]
See also
- 5α-Dihydroprogesterone
- 11-Deoxycorticosterone (21-hydroxyprogesterone)
- 20-Dihydroprogesterone
- Algestone (16α,17α-dihydroxyprogesterone)
References
PRTooltip Progesterone receptor |
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mPRTooltip Membrane progesterone receptor (PAQRTooltip Progestin and adipoQ receptor) |
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MRTooltip Mineralocorticoid receptor |
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