Cited 38 times since 2005 (1.9 per year) source: EuropePMC The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, Volume 90, Issue 9, 28 4 2005, Pages 5313-5316 A common polymorphism in the CYP3A7 gene is associated with a nearly 50% reduction in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. Smit P, van Schaik RH, van der Werf M, van den Beld AW, Koper JW, Lindemans J, Pols HA, Brinkmann AO, de Jong FH, Lamberts SW
Context
CYP3A7, expressed in the human fetal liver and normally silenced after birth, plays a major role in the 16alpha-hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), and estrone. Due to a replacement of part of the CYP3A7 promoter with a sequence identical with the same region in the CYP3A4 promoter (referred to as CYP3A7*1C), some individuals still express a variant of the CYP3A7 gene later in life.
Objective
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the CYP3A7*1C polymorphism on serum steroid hormone levels.
Design, setting, participants
Two population-based cohort studies were performed. Study group 1 consisted of 208 subjects randomly selected from the Rotterdam Study, and study group 2 consisted of 345 elderly independently living men.
Main outcome measures
Serum DHEA(S), androstenedione, estradiol, estrone, and testosterone levels were the main outcome measures.
Results
In study groups 1 and 2, heterozygous CYP3A7*1C carriers had almost 50% lower DHEAS levels compared with homozygous carriers of the reference allele [study group 1, 1.74 +/- 0.25 vs. 3.33 +/- 0.15 micromol/liter (P = 0.02); study group 2, 2.09 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.08 +/- 0.12 micromol/liter (P < 0.001)]. No differences in circulating DHEA, androstenedione, estradiol, or testosterone levels were found. However, in study group 2, serum estrone levels were lower in heterozygous CYP3A7*1C carriers compared with homozygous carriers of the reference allele (0.11 +/- 0.002 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.006 nmol/liter; P < 0.001).
Conclusion
The CYP3A7*1C polymorphism causes the persistence of enzymatic activity of CYP3A7 during adult life, resulting in lower circulating DHEAS and estrone levels.
