Steroidogenic Pathway in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) of Healthy Individuals

ROSSETTI MF; BOSQUIAZZO VL; CARDOZO MA; RAMOS JG; GAYDOU L; TSCHOPP MV

Congreso; LXIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica (SAIC); 2018

There is growing evidence that cells of the immune system can synthetize and secreteproducts not associated with their traditional functions, such as hormones andneuropeptides. In a previous work, we have demonstrated the presence of several enzymesassociated with sex steroid synthesis in PBMCs from healthy individuals. Our goal now wasto complete the study of the steroidogenic pathway in these cells. We separatedmononuclear cells from males (n=36) and females (n=55) of ages 25 ? 90 using a Ficollgradient. RNA was obtained with Trizol reagent, and reverse transcribed to obtain cDNA. Wedesigned primers for aromatase (Aro), 5α-reductase (5aR) 1 and 3, 3β hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase (3bHSD), 3α hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3aHSD) 1 and 3, P450 side-chain-cleavage (P450scc), cytochrome P450c17, and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17bHSD) 1, 3 and 5. Real-Time PCR was performed using L19 as a housekeeping gene.Statistical analysis were carried out using R software. We found expression of all of theenzymes studied in PBMCs, except for Aro and 3αHSD1. In particular, there was asignificantly higher expression of 5aR1 in men older than 50 years versus younger than 50,and when we compared both sexes, there were higher levels of this enzyme expression inmales older than 50 versus females of the same age (ANOVA p=0,043). Regarding 5aR3,we found a higher expression in men older than 50 years when comparing them to womenolder than 50 years (p=0,035). These results show that PBMCs have the required machineryto produce sex steroids, and that in some cases the expression varies regarding sex andage. The transcription of enzymes involved in androgen production appears to be moreactive in male PBMCs.