Clinical implications of glucocorticoid metabolism by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in target tissues

Abstract

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSD) are microsomal enzymes that catalyzed the conversion of active glucocorticoids (GC) to their inactive 11-dehydro products and vise versa. Two isoenzymes of 11β-HSD have been characterized and cloned in human tissues. The tissues. The tissue-specific metabolism of GC by these enzymes is important for mineralocorticoid (MC) and GC receptor occupancy and seems to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as apparent MC excess syndrome and may play roles in hypertension, obesity and impaired hepatic glucose homeostasis. This article reviews the literature and examines the role and importance of 11β-HSD in humans.