11β-Hydroxytestosterone

11β-Hydroxytestosterone
Names
	IUPAC name 11β,17β-Dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one
	Systematic IUPAC name (1S,3aS,3bS,9aR,9bS,11aS)-1,10-Dihydroxy-9a,11a-dimethyl-1,2,3,3a,3b,4,5,8,9,9a,9b,10,11,11a-tetradecahydro-7H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-7-one
Identifiers
CAS Number	1816-85-9 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:81481;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL486718;
ChemSpider	102866;
ECHA InfoCard	100.162.057
EC Number	634-040-0;
KEGG	C18075;
PubChem CID	114920;
UNII	BEF7K94MWQ ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID70939454 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C19H28O3/c1-18-8-7-12(20)9-11(18)3-4-13-14-5-6-16(22)19(14,2)10-15(21)17(13)18/h9,13-17,21-22H,3-8,10H2,1-2H3/t13-,14-,15-,16-,17+,18-,19-/m0/s1;
	SMILES C1C2=CC(CC[C@@]2([C@]3([C@H](C[C@]4([C@]([C@@]3(C1)[H])(CC[C@@H]4O)[H])C)O)[H])C)=O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C19H28O3
Molar mass	304.430 g·mol−1
Hazards
	GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H351, H360
Precautionary statements	P201, P202, P281, P308+P313, P405, P501
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

11β-Hydroxytestosterone is an endogenous steroid, a metabolite of testosterone.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] Although it may not have significant androgenic activity, it may still be an important precursor to androgenic molecules.^[4]

Chemical properties

11β-Hydroxytestosterone is an androstanoid with the molecular formula C₁₉H₂₈O₃ and a molecular weight of 304.42 Da. Its IUPAC name is (8S,9S,10R,11S,13S,14S,17S)-11,17-dihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one, reflecting its steroid structure with hydroxyl groups at the 11β and 17β positions and a 3-keto group on the A-ring.

The compound is a 3-oxo-Δ4 steroid, structurally related to testosterone, with an additional hydroxyl group at the 11β-position, which reduces its androgenic potency but enables further metabolism into active androgens.

It is moderately soluble in water due to its hydroxyl groups but more soluble in organic solvents like ethanol.^[5]

Biosynthesis and metabolism

11β-Hydroxytestosterone is biosynthesized in the adrenal glands, primarily in the zona reticularis, through the action of cytochrome P450 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), which catalyzes the hydroxylation of testosterone at the 11β-position. This enzyme, encoded by the CYP11B1 gene, is a mitochondrial P450 monooxygenase that also converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone, with weaker activity on testosterone. The reaction requires electron transfer from NADPH via adrenodoxin reductase and adrenodoxin, similar to other P450 systems.

In adrenal tissue, testosterone, derived from androstenedione via 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD), serves as the precursor. Studies from the 1960s confirmed its production in human adrenal homogenates, with 11β-Hydroxytestosterone as the predominant metabolite of testosterone, alongside minor amounts of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4) and 11-ketoandrostenedione (11KA4). Its biosynthesis is regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which upregulates CYP11B1 expression.

In peripheral tissues, 11β-Hydroxytestosterone is metabolized by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11βHSD2) to 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT), a more potent androgen, or by 5α-reductase to 11β-hydroxydihydrotestosterone (11OHDHT), both of which are androgen receptor (AR) agonists.

Biological role

11β-Hydroxytestosterone has weak androgenic activity compared to testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) due to the 11β-hydroxyl group, which reduces its affinity for the androgen receptor. However, it is a critical precursor in the C11-oxy C19 steroid pathway, which produces potent androgens like 11-KT and 11-KDHT, particularly in peripheral tissues such as the prostate. This pathway challenges the traditional view that testosterone and DHT are the sole potent androgens in humans.

Clinical relevance

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): 11β-Hydroxytestosterone levels are elevated in PCOS patients, often exceeding testosterone levels, making it a potential biomarker for hyperandrogenism.^[6]
Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC): The C11-oxy C19 pathway, including 11β-Hydroxytestosterone, contributes to androgen production in CRPC, where adrenal-derived 11OHA4 and 11OHT are metabolized to 11-KT and 11-KDHT in prostate tissue, sustaining tumor growth despite androgen deprivation therapy.^[7]
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): Mutations in the CYP11B1 gene, which encodes 11β-hydroxylase, can lead to 11β-hydroxylase deficiency, increasing 11β-Hydroxytestosterone precursors like testosterone and androstenedione, contributing to virilization.^[8]

Research

Recent research has focused on the C11-oxy C19 steroid pathway, with 11β-Hydroxytestosterone identified as a key intermediate. A 2013 study in LNCaP prostate cancer cells demonstrated its conversion to 11-KT and 11-KDHT, highlighting its role in CRPC. A 2016 study confirmed its elevated levels in 21-hydroxylase deficiency, another form of CAH, where it contributes to adrenal androgen excess. ^[9]

Detection in doping and testing

Given its anabolic properties, 11β-Hydroxytestosterone is monitored in anti-doping testing. It can be detected in urine samples as part of testing for banned substances. Its detection helps identify the misuse of testosterone or other anabolic steroids, as athletes may attempt to mask their use of these substances by metabolizing testosterone into 11β-hydroxytestosterone. Specialized tests are used to measure the ratio of 11β-Hydroxytestosterone to testosterone, as a way to flag illicit use of exogenous substances.^[10]

References

^ Storbeck KH, Mostaghel EA (2019). "Canonical and Noncanonical Androgen Metabolism and Activity". Prostate Cancer. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 1210. Springer. pp. 239–277. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-32656-2_11. ISBN 978-3-030-32655-5. PMID 31900912. S2CID 209748543. CYP11B1 and 2 have also been shown to 11β-hydroxylate T, yielding 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT), though the levels produced by the adrenal are low due to the limited availability of adrenal derived T
^ Stárka L, Dušková M, Vítků J (September 2020). "11-Keto-testosterone and other androgens of adrenal origin". Physiological Research. 69 (Suppl 2): S187 – S192. doi:10.33549/physiolres.934516. PMC 8603739. PMID 33094617.
^ van Rooyen D, Gent R, Barnard L, Swart AC (2018). "The in vitro metabolism of 11β-hydroxyprogesterone and 11-ketoprogesterone to 11-ketodihydrotestosterone in the backdoor pathway". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 178: 203–212. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.12.014. PMID 29277707. S2CID 3700135.
^ ^a ^b Masiutin M, Yadav M (2023). "Alternative androgen pathways". WikiJournal of Medicine. 10: X. doi:10.15347/WJM/2023.003. S2CID 257943362.
^ "11Beta-Hydroxytestosterone". ChemicalBook. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
^ Rodin A, Thakkar H, Taylor N, Clayton R (1994). "Hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome. Evidence of dysregulation of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase". N Engl J Med. 330 (7): 460–465. doi:10.1056/NEJM199402173300703. PMID 8289851.
^ Storbeck KH, Bloem LM, Africander D, Schloms L, Swart P, Swart AC (2013). "11β-Hydroxydihydrotestosterone and 11-ketodihydrotestosterone, novel C19 steroids with androgenic activity". Mol Cell Endocrinol. 377 (1–2): 135–146. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2013.07.006. PMID 23856005.
^ Speiser PW, White PC (2003). "Congenital adrenal hyperplasia". N Engl J Med. 349 (8): 776–788. doi:10.1056/NEJMra021561. PMID 12930931.
^ Turcu AF, Nanba AT, Chomic R, Upadhyay SK, Giordano TJ, Shields JJ, Merke DP, Rainey WE, Auchus RJ (2016). "Adrenal-derived 11-oxygenated 19-carbon steroids are the dominant androgens in classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency". Eur J Endocrinol. 174 (5): 601–609. doi:10.1530/EJE-15-1181. PMC 4874183. PMID 26865584.
^ du Toit T, Bloem LM, Quanson JL, Ehlers R, Serafin AM, Swart AC (2017). "Profiling adrenal 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione metabolites in prostate cancer cells, tissue and plasma: UPC2-MS/MS quantification of 11β-hydroxytestosterone, 11keto-testosterone and 11keto-dihydrotestosterone". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 166: 54–67. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.06.009. ISSN 1879-1220. PMID 27345701.