Endogenous steroids

Endogenous steroids are a broad class of lipophilic signaling molecules synthesized primarily from cholesterol in the adrenal glands, gonads, and placenta [1]. They include several major sub-classes: glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol), mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone), androgens (e.g., testosterone), estrogens (e.g., estradiol), and progestogens (e.g., progesterone) [1, 2]. These molecules function as ligands for nuclear receptors, where they modulate gene expression to regulate vital processes such as metabolism, immune response, electrolyte balance, and reproductive development [1]. In clinical medicine, endogenous steroids are not typically viewed as therapeutic targets themselves; rather, the receptors they bind to or the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis (such as CYP17A1 or 5-alpha reductase) are the primary targets for drug development [3, 4]. Dysregulation of these steroid pathways is central to various diseases, including endocrine disorders like Cushing's syndrome, inflammatory conditions, and hormone-dependent malignancies such as breast and prostate cancer [3]. Therapeutic interventions often utilize synthetic steroid analogs to replace deficient hormones or antagonists to block excessive hormonal signaling [4].

Other names

Steroid hormonesNatural steroidsCorticosteroidsSex steroidsNeurosteroids

Drugs typically act as agonists or antagonists of nuclear steroid receptors or as inhibitors of steroidogenic enzymes to modulate the levels or activity of endogenous steroids.