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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Storbeck KH, Swart P, Africander D, Conradie R, Louw R, Swart AC (2011). "16α-hydroxyprogesterone: origin, biosynthesis and receptor interaction". Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 336 (1–2): 92–101. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2010.11.016. PMID 21095220. S2CID 5503049.