Epiandrosterone, dehydro-, sulfate

Kitada, M., T. Kamataki, K. Itahashi, T. Rikihisa, and Y. Kanakubo (1987). P-450 HFLa, a form of cytochrome P-450 purified from human fetal livers, is the 16 alpha-hydroxylase of dehydro-epiandrosterone 3-sulfate. J. Biol. Chem. 262, 13534-13537. 

Kullak-Ublick, G. A., et al. Dehydro-epiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) identification of a carrier protein in human liver and brain. FEBS Lett. 1998, 424, 173-176. 

The biologically inactive estrone sulfate (EIS) and dehydro-epiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating estrogenic precursors in the plasma of post-menopausal women [103]. Desulfation of inactive steroid-3-0-sulfates by estrone-sulfatase (STS) plays a key role in the regulation of levels of receptor-active estrogenic steroids (estradiol and androstenediol) in breast cancer cells (Fig. 9). There is strong evidence suggesting that estrone sulfatase (STS) and DHEA-sulfatase are the same enzyme [103]. 

The solution was dried over sodium sulfate and exaporated. 13.6 g of crude dehydro-epiandrosterone-3-oenanthate were obtained, melting point 70°-72°C (recrystallisation from methanol). 

Orentreich N, Brind JL, Rizer RL, Vogelman JH. Age changes and sex differences in serum dehydro epiandrosterone sulfate levels throughout adulthood. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984 59 551-5. 

Figure 54-1 Schematic representation of steroid and protein hormone production by the placenta. DHEA-S, Dehydro-epiandrosterone sulfate CG, chorionic gonadotropin PL, placental lactogen ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone TRH, thyroid-stimulating hormone CT, chorionic thyrotropin GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone PAPP-A, pregnancy associated plasma protein-A.

As indicated previously (Section 111, F, 1 and 2), the two quantitatively most important steroids circulating in the fetal compartment are dehydro-epiandrosterone sulfate and 16a-hydroxydehydroepiandrosteronc sulfate. The concentration of these two steroids is higher in the umbilical artery than in the umbilical vein, indicating their production in the fetal compartment and their secretion to the placenta, in placental tissue, the major part of these steroid conjugatiis is hydrolyzed and aromatized and the respective estrogens (estrone, 17d-est.radiol, and estriol) are largely transferred to the mother while a small part returns to the fetus. 

---