Steroid hormone pathways

Steroid hormone pathways encompass the complex biochemical processes of steroidogenesis and the subsequent signaling cascades mediated by steroid hormone receptors. These pathways are initiated by the synthesis of steroid hormones from cholesterol in specialized tissues such as the adrenal glands and gonads, involving enzymes like CYP11A1 and CYP17A1 [4, 11]. Once synthesized, hormones like estrogens, androgens, and glucocorticoids diffuse into target cells to bind intracellular receptors, which then act as transcription factors to regulate gene expression [2, 7]. Dysregulation of these pathways is central to the pathogenesis of various conditions, including hormone-dependent cancers (e.g., breast and prostate cancer), inflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders [1, 6]. Consequently, components of these pathways are major therapeutic targets in clinical medicine [1, 5]. Drugs targeting these pathways include aromatase inhibitors, androgen receptor antagonists, and synthetic corticosteroids, which aim to either block hormone production or modulate receptor activity to restore homeostasis or inhibit disease progression [5, 13, 14].

Other names

SteroidogenesisSteroid signalingSteroid hormone signaling pathwaysSteroid hormone biosynthesis

Inhibition of steroidogenic enzymes (e.g., CYP17A1, aromatase) to block hormone synthesis, or modulation of nuclear steroid receptors (e.g., AR, ER, GR, MR, PR) through competitive antagonism or agonism to alter gene transcription.