11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in hypothalamic obesity.

Abstract

After extensive suprasellar operations for hypothalamic tumor removal, some patients develop Cushing-like morbid obesity while they receive replacement doses of glucocorticoids. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that target tissue conversion of inactive 11-ketosteroids to active 11 beta-OH glucocorticoids might explain the obesity of some patients with hypothalamic lesions. Toward this aim, we studied 10 patients with hypothalamic obesity and secondary adrenal insufficiency and 6 control Addisonian patients while they were on glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Pituitary hormone deficiencies were replaced when medically indicated. Twenty-four-hour urine was collected after a single oral dose of 12 mg/m(2) hydrocortisone acetate. The ratios of free and conjugated cortisol (F) to cortisone (E) and their metabolites, [tetrahydrocortisol (THF)+5 alpha THF]/tetrahyrdocortisone (THE), dihydrocortisols/dihydrocortisones, cortols/cortolones, and (F+E)/(THF+THE+5 alpha THF), were considered to represent 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) activity. The 11-OH/11-oxo ratios were significantly higher in the urine of patients with hypothalamic obesity. The 11-OH/11-oxo ratios, however, did not correlate with the degree of obesity, yet a significant correlation was found between conjugated F/E and the ratio of visceral fat to sc fat measured by computerized tomography at the umbilical level. The consequence of increased 11 beta-HSD1 activity and the shift of the interconversion toward cortisol may contribute to the effects of the latter in adipose tissue. We propose that deficiency of hypothalamic messengers after surgical injury induces a paracrine/autocrine effect of enhanced glucocorticoid activity due to up-regulated 11 beta-HSD1 activity.

• Authors: Dov Tiosano, Israel Eisentein, Daniela Militianu, George P Chrousos, Ze'ev Hochberg
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 88 Issue 1 Pg. 379-84 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 12519880 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• hydrocortisone acetate
• Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
• 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
• Cortisone
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
• Addison Disease (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Adolescent
• Adrenal Insufficiency (metabolism)
• Adult
• Child
• Cortisone (metabolism)
• Craniopharyngioma (surgery)
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (analogs & derivatives, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases (metabolism)
• Hypothalamic Diseases (complications)
• Male
• Obesity (enzymology, etiology, metabolism, urine)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (surgery)
• Postoperative Period