Abstract
Women have a higher percentage of body fat than men, and there is a gender-specific difference in fat distribution: Females tend to accumulate fat around the hips, buttocks, and thighs while men have a larger intra-abdominal (visceral) fat mass. After menopause, there is a redistribution of fat depots, and post-menopausal women develop increased amounts of visceral fat. The risk of developing obesity-related diseases is significantly lower in pre-menopausal women compared to men, a difference that is abolished after menopause, suggesting that the female sex steroid estrogen influences adipogenesis and adipose metabolism. Experimentally, estrogen increases the size and number of subcutaneous adipocytes and attenuates lipolysis. Post-menopausal women also develop a more atherogenic lipid pattern and decreased levels of the prothrombotic protein plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, which attenuates fibrinolysis. Pathologically increased circulating cortisol concentration is associated with dysmetabolic features e.g., central obesity, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. In “simple obesity,” glucocorticoid production is elevated. Peak levels of circulating cortisol are however low or normal, possibly because of increased clearance and/or tissue-specific changes in cortisol production. In addition to the adrenal production of cortisol, cortisol is also generated in adipose tissue by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) which converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. The enzyme activity in subcutaneous fat increases with increasing body weight. Estrogen seems to have a tissue-specific influence on 11βHSD1 enzyme activity, attenuating it in liver, kidney, and testis but upregulating 11βHSD1 mRNA expression in preadipocytes from women. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the interaction between glucocorticoids and sex steroids and their influence on adipocyte metabolism.
Keywords: Adipose tissue, metabolic syndrome, estrogen, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cortisol
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Estrogens and Glucocorticoid Hormones in Adipose Tissue Metabolism
Volume: 14 Issue: 27
Author(s): Cecilia Mattsson and Tommy Olsson
Affiliation:
Keywords: Adipose tissue, metabolic syndrome, estrogen, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cortisol
Abstract: Women have a higher percentage of body fat than men, and there is a gender-specific difference in fat distribution: Females tend to accumulate fat around the hips, buttocks, and thighs while men have a larger intra-abdominal (visceral) fat mass. After menopause, there is a redistribution of fat depots, and post-menopausal women develop increased amounts of visceral fat. The risk of developing obesity-related diseases is significantly lower in pre-menopausal women compared to men, a difference that is abolished after menopause, suggesting that the female sex steroid estrogen influences adipogenesis and adipose metabolism. Experimentally, estrogen increases the size and number of subcutaneous adipocytes and attenuates lipolysis. Post-menopausal women also develop a more atherogenic lipid pattern and decreased levels of the prothrombotic protein plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, which attenuates fibrinolysis. Pathologically increased circulating cortisol concentration is associated with dysmetabolic features e.g., central obesity, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. In “simple obesity,” glucocorticoid production is elevated. Peak levels of circulating cortisol are however low or normal, possibly because of increased clearance and/or tissue-specific changes in cortisol production. In addition to the adrenal production of cortisol, cortisol is also generated in adipose tissue by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) which converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. The enzyme activity in subcutaneous fat increases with increasing body weight. Estrogen seems to have a tissue-specific influence on 11βHSD1 enzyme activity, attenuating it in liver, kidney, and testis but upregulating 11βHSD1 mRNA expression in preadipocytes from women. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the interaction between glucocorticoids and sex steroids and their influence on adipocyte metabolism.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mattsson Cecilia and Olsson Tommy, Estrogens and Glucocorticoid Hormones in Adipose Tissue Metabolism, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 14 (27) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707782359972
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707782359972 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Macrophage Dysfunctions in Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Disease: Implications in Inflammation and Chronic Infections
Clinical Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Drugs (Discontinued) Surfactant Protein A - From Genes to Human Lung Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Role of CD73 in Disease: Promising Prognostic Indicator and Therapeutic Target
Current Medicinal Chemistry Role of Iron Deficiency and Overload in the Pathogenesis of Diabetes and Diabetic Complications
Current Medicinal Chemistry Understanding the Multifaceted Role of Inflammatory Mediators in Ischemic Stroke
Current Medicinal Chemistry VEGF in Tumor Progression and Targeted Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets PD-L1 Testing for Urothelial Carcinoma: Interchangeability, Reliability and Future Perspectives
Current Drug Targets Recent Patents Relating To HCV Molecules Like Putative Targets For Therapeutic Intervention
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences The Early Bird Catches the Worm – Can Evolution Teach us Lessons in Fighting HIV?
Current HIV Research Hyperglycemia Induced Changes in Liver: In vivo and In vitro Studies
Current Diabetes Reviews General Aspects of Metal Toxicity
Current Medicinal Chemistry Assembly, Maturation, and Trafficking of the γ-Secretase Complex in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Verapamil and Methylxanthine Derivatives in Mice
Drug Metabolism Letters Angiogenic and Vascular Modulation by Extracellular Matrix Cleavage Products
Current Pharmaceutical Design Busulphan in Blood and Marrow Transplantation: Dose, Route, Frequency and Role of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Current Clinical Pharmacology SGLT-2 inhibitors in Diabetic Kidney Disease: What Lies Behind their Renoprotective Properties?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Unraveling the Complexity of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Recent Advances from the Transgenic Mutant SOD1 Mice
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets HIV-1 Tat Disrupts CX3CL1-CX3CR1 Axis in Microglia via the NF-κBYY1 Pathway
Current HIV Research Reappraisal of Antimalarials in Interferonopathies: New Perspectives for Old Drugs
Current Medicinal Chemistry Approaches and Resources for Prediction of the Effects of Non-Synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphism on Protein Function and Interactions
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology