Zona fasciculata 21-hydroxysteroids and precursor-to-product ratios in 21-hydroxylase deficiency: Further characterization of classic and non-classic patients and heterozygote carriers

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 587 - 592
• Main Authors: Costa-Barbosa, F. A., Carvalho, V. M., Nakamura, O. H., Bachega, T. A. S. S., Vieira, J. G. H., Kater, C. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.09.2011
• Subjects: 17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone - metabolism; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital - genetics; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital - metabolism; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital - physiopathology; Adult; Carrier State; Corticosterone - metabolism; Cortodoxone - metabolism; Endocrinology; Female; Heterozygote; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Original Articles; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase - genetics; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase - metabolism; Young Adult; Zona Fasciculata - chemistry; Zona Fasciculata - metabolism; 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC); 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD); 11-deoxycortisol (S); 21OHD carriers; wild-type (WT); 21-deoxycortisol (21DF); corticosterone (B); 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP); precursor-to-product ratios
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.3275/7273

Introduction: Although much is known about the increased levels of the 21-hydroxylase substrates 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and 21-deoxycortisol (21 DF) — the biochemical markers of all forms of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD), only limited information is available on the zona fasciculata (ZF) products distal to the enzymatic block: 11 -deoxycortisol (S), 11 -deoxycorticosterone (DOC), and corticosterone (B). Objective: To investigate whether basal and post-ACTH levels of S, DOC, and B and the 21 -hydroxylase precursor-to-product ratios determined by tandem mass spectrometry preceded by high-performance liquid chromatography separation (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) could disclose distinct profiles in genotypically confirmed classic (no.=14) and non-classic (NC) (no.=18) patients, heterozygote carriers (no.=61) and wild-types (WT) (no.=27) for 21OHD. Results: Salt wasting (SW) and simple virilizing (SV) had higher basal levels of DOC with no further increase in response to ACTH. Stimulated DOC was similar in 21OHD patients and carriers but was reduced as compared to WT. ACTH-stimulated B increased gradually from SW and SV through WT. The post-ACTH 21DF/B ratio was able to detect 92% of the carriers among WT. All NC patients could be detected by post-ACTH 17OHP/DOC and 21 DF/B, with no overlap with 21OHD carriers. Conclusion: Although 21-hydroxylase is a key enzymatic step in both 17-hydroxy and 17-deoxy pathways of ZF, the reaction is mostly affected in the latter pathway, leading to a significant impairment of B production, which may further characterize the 21OHD subtypes. Also, the precursor-to-product ratios, particularly 21 DF/B, can demonstrate the distinctive outline of 21OHD subtypes, including carriers and normal subjects.