Human skin androgen metabolism and preliminary evidence for its control by two forms of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase.

Human forehead skin incubated in vitro is known to metabolize testosterone to 17-oxosteroids faster than the reverse reaction, while axillary skin rapidly metabolizes androstenedione to 17 beta-hydroxysteroids, such as testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. While this has been confirmed using a larger number of patients, some indication has been found that 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity declines with age in the axilla. The relative rates of 17 beta-oxidation and reduction (direction of operation of skin 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity) were not altered by variety of incubation conditions. Large amounts of a membrane-bound 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase, showing preference for NAD as coenzyme and testosterone (rather than androstenedione) as steroid substrate, were found in forehead skin from one patient. On the other hand, the main axillary skin enzyme in skin from another patient was soluble and showed preference for NADP and androstenedione. It is postulated that 17 beta-oxidation and reduction in skin is controlled by the relative amount, the coenzyme preferences and the kinetic properties of these two enzymes.