STEROIDOGENIC PATHWAY IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS (PBMC) OF HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

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

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 secrete products not originally associated with their normal functions, such as hormones and neuropeptides. In a previous work, we have demonstrated the presence of several enzymes associated with sex steroid synthesis in PBMCs from healthy individuals. Our goal now was to complete the study of the steroidogenic pathway in these cells. We separated mononuclear cells from males (n=36) and females (n=55) of ages 25 ? 90 using a Ficoll gradient. RNA was obtained with Trizol reagent, and reverse transcribed to obtain cDNA. We designed primers for aromatase (Aro), 5α-reductase (5aR) 1 and 3, 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (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 the enzymes studied in PBMCs, except for Aro and 3αHSD1. In particular, there was a significantly 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 in males 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 women older than 50 years (p=0,035). These results show that PBMCs have the required machinery to produce sex steroids, and that in some cases the expression varies regarding sex and age. The transcription of enzymes involved in androgen production appears to be more active in male PBMCs