11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 2 in Preeclampsia

Figure 1

The function of human 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Cortisol is metabolized in the aldosterone target tissues (e.g., kidneys, colon, and salivary glands) to cortisone by 11β-HSD2. This enzymatic inactivation is a prereceptor mechanism that ensures the selectivity of mineralocorticoid receptor to aldosterone. Placenta cannot be considered as mineralocorticoid target tissue, and although the reaction of cortisol inactivation catalyzed by placental 11β-HSD2 is the same as in kidneys, the role of the process is different—it protects the developing fetus from the excess of maternal cortisol. 11β-HSD1 is expressed in glucocorticoid target tissues (e.g., liver, adipose tissue, muscle, and brain) where it ensures the cortisol concentration maintaining the proper activation of glucocorticoid receptor.