Membrane transporters for sulfated steroids in the human testis--cellular localization, expression pattern and functional analysis.

ABSTRACT: Sulfated steroid hormones are commonly considered to be biologically inactive metabolites, but may be reactivated by the steroid sulfatase into biologically active free steroids, thereby having regulatory function via nuclear androgen and estrogen receptors which are widespread in the testis. However, a prerequisite for this mode of action would be a carrier-mediated import of the hydrophilic steroid sulfate molecules into specific target cells in reproductive tissues such as the testis. In the present study we detected predominant expression of the Sodium-dependent Organic Anion Transporter (SOAT), the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 6A1, and the Organic Solute Carrier Partner 1 in human testis biopsies. All of these showed significantly lower or even absent mRNA expression in seve

SUBMITTER: Fietz D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3648580 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature