The Inhibition of Human Adrenal Steroidogenic Enzyme Activities by Suramin*
- 1 February 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by The Endocrine Society in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Vol. 68 (2), 505-508
- https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-68-2-505
Abstract
Suramin has recently been used to treat patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome because of the action of the drug on reverse transcriptase. Patients so treated developed the symptoms and hormonal profiles of adrenal insufficiency. To evaluate the mechanism of action of suramin on adrenalcortical function, adrenal mitochondrial and microsomal preparations from five subjects were assayed for steroidogenic enzyme activity in the presence and absence of suramin. Specifically, 3.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, 17.alpha.-hydroxylase, 21-hydroxylase, 11.beta.-hydroxylase, and 17,20-desmolase activity were measured in the presence of 0-5000 .mu.mol/L suramin concentrations. In all assays, enzyme activities decreased in a dose-dependent fashion as suramin concentrations increased. The drug doses (calculated) that caused 50% inhibition of enzyme activity were: 21-hydroxylase activity, 50 .mu.mol/L; 17.alpha.-hydroxylase activity, 25 .mu.mol/L; 17,20-desomolase activity, 50 .mu.mol/L; 11.beta.-hydroxylase, 2 .mu.mol/L, and 3.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, 1200 .mu.mol/L. These results suggest that suramin has a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the key P-450-regulated enzymatic steps in adrenal glucocorticoid steroidogenesis, which may explain the development of adrenal insufficiency in acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients treated with suramin.This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Suramin therapy in AIDS and related disorders. Report of the US Suramin Working GroupJAMA, 1987
- Effects of Suramin on the Function and Structure of the Adrenal Cortex in the Cynomolgus MonkeyJournal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1987
- Suramin and Function of the Adrenal CortexAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1986
- Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Suramin in Patients With HTLV‐III/LAV InfectionThe Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1986
- EFFECTS OF SURAMIN ON HTLV-III/LAV INFECTION PRESENTING AS KAPOSI'S SARCOMA OR AIDS-RELATED COMPLEX: CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY AND SUPPRESSION OF VIRUS REPLICATION IN VIVOThe Lancet, 1985
- Suramin Protection of T Cells in Vitro Against Infectivity and Cytopathic Effect of HTLV-IIIScience, 1984
- The developmental changes in plasma adrenal androgens during infancy and adrenarche are associated with changing activities of adrenal microsomal 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-desmolase.JCI Insight, 1981
- PROTEIN MEASUREMENT WITH THE FOLIN PHENOL REAGENTJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1951
- Degeneration of the adrenal cortex produced by germanin1941