17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity correlates with the type-2 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA abundance in human meningioma tumors.

Benign meningioma tumors possess significant levels of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity. Two different 17 beta-HSDs were discovered in human placenta: one highly estrogen specific and using NADP+/NADPH as cofactors (type-1 17 beta-HSD), and a second one that utilizes both androgens and estrogens as substrates with NAD+/NADH (type-2 17 beta-HSD). Recently, two further human 17 beta-HSDs were isolated. A testis-specific 17 beta-HSD (type-3 17 beta-HSD) favors the reduction of delta 4-androstenedione to testosterone, and a ubiquitously expressed type-4 17 beta-HSD preferentially catalyzes the oxidation of estradiol and delta 5-androstenediol. In this study we characterize the expression levels of different types of 17 beta-HSD in a wide series of tumors. Using the Northern blotting method we show that type-1, -3, and -4 17 beta-HSDs are not detectable in meningiomas. In contrast, the type-2 17 beta-HSD RNA is present in 6 of 17 meningiomas and its abundance is directly correlated with estrogenic 17 beta-HSD activity (r2 = 0.74). The presence of type-2 17 beta-HSD is also demonstrated by in situ hybridization. RT-PCR and Western blots show that type-4 17 beta-HSD is also present, though at much lower levels. The progesterone receptor level, the epidermal growth factor receptor level, and the age of the patients are not correlated with the estrogenic 17 beta-HSD activity or type-2 17 beta-HSD mRNA expression level.