Cortisol metabolism and visceral obesity: role of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I enzyme and reduced co-factor NADPH.

Several factors including genetic and environmental play a role in the development of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The transgenic mouse overexpressing 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) develops visceral obesity. However, it remains unclear how a ubiquitously expressed 11beta-HSD1 enzyme affects adipose tissue so much that it would lead to obesity. In this commentary we explore the possibility that increased intracellular availability of reduced co-factor, NADPH, could exacerbate the enzymatic activity.