5α还原酶Ⅲ型的生物学特性及其相关研究进展

Biological characteristics of 5α-reductase type 3 and related research progress

5α还原酶(5α-R)已被认为广泛地存在于人类和其他动物体内,对5α-RⅠ型(5α-R1)及5α-RⅡ型(5α-R2)的研究表明,它主要将睾酮、孕酮、醛固酮和去氧皮质酮转化成各自的5α肾上腺酮二氢衍生物,进一步转化为活跃的有明显生理功能的神经类固醇激素。目前对5α-RⅢ型(5α-R3)的研究引起广泛关注。5α-R3分布和表达于人类的小脑、视网膜、心脏、皮肤、肾、前列腺、肝、骨、肌肉、子宫肌层和胰腺。尽管表达水平不同,但研究发现其生理及功能不尽相同,对人类智力障碍和视觉障碍的影响已得到证实。5α-R3的发现将为与其相关疾病的发生和发展,如良性前列腺增生(BPH)、前列腺癌、男性雄激素性脱发(AGA)的研究提供了更为广阔的思路和选择。

5α-reductases （5α-R） are a family of isozymes expressed in a wide host of tissues including humans and animals. The studies of 5α-reductase type 1 （5α-R1） and 5α-reductase type 2 （5α-R2） showed that they con- verted testosterone, progesterone, aldosterone and deoxyeorticosterone into their respective 5α-dihydro-derivatives, which were subsequently transformed into a subclass of neuro-active steroid hormones with distinct physio- logical function. The recent studies confirmed that the expression and tissue distribution of 5α-reductase type 3 （5α-Rα） encompassed the hippocampus and cerebellum of human brain, retina, heart, skin, kidney, prostate, liv- er, skeleton, muscle, myometrium, and pancreas. Furthermore, it has been proved the varying degrees of expression levels had different physiological function and evolvement. For instance, patients with 5α-reductases deficiency exhibit mental retardation and visual impairment. The target of 5α-R3 provides a wide strategy and prosperity in the occurrence and development of associative diseases, such as BPH, prostate cancer and androgenetic alopecia （AGA）.