Production of 11-Oxygenated Androgens by Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumors

Abstract

Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TART) are a common complication in male patients with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD). TART are considered to have steroid-producing properties and may contribute to the androgen excess in 21OHD patients. This study aims to define the production of 11-oxygenated 19-carbon (11oxC19) steroids by TART. Steroids were measured in left (n=7) and right (n=4) spermatic vein- and simultaneously taken peripheral plasma (n=7) samples from seven men with 21OHD and TART using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, steroids were quantified in TART cell- and adrenal cell-conditioned medium, with and without adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. Compared to peripheral blood of 21OHD patients with TART, the spermatic vein samples displayed the highest gradient for 11-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT; 96-fold) of the 11oxC19 steroids, followed by 11-ketotestosterone (47-fold) and 11-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4; 29-fold), suggesting production of these steroids in TART. TART cell-conditioned medium contained higher levels of testosterone, and lower levels of androstenedione and 11OHA4 after ACTH stimulation compared to adrenal cell-conditioned medium, indicating ACTH-induced production of testosterone in TART. TART cells also produced 11OHT after 48 h of ACTH stimulation. Thus, in patients with 21OHD, TART produce 11oxC19 steroids, but in different proportions than the adrenals. The very high ratio of 11OHT in spermatic vein- versus peripheral vein blood suggests the 11-hydroxylation of testosterone by TART, and the in-vitro results indicate that this metabolism is ACTH-sensitive.