AKR1C3

Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3), also known as 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17β-HSD5, HSD17B5) or 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (3α-HSD2) is a steroidogenic enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AKR1C3 gene.

Function

This gene encodes a member of the aldo/keto reductase superfamily, which consists of more than 40 known enzymes and proteins. These enzymes catalyze the conversion of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols by utilizing NADH and/or NADPH as cofactors. The enzymes display overlapping but distinct substrate specificity. This enzyme catalyzes the reduction of prostaglandin D₂, prostaglandin H₂, and phenanthrenequinone, and the oxidation of prostaglandin F_2α to prostaglandin D₂. It is also capable of metabolizing estrogen and progesterone.

AKR1C3 may play an important role in the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, and may also have a role in controlling cell growth and/or differentiation. This gene shares high sequence identity with three other gene members and is clustered with those three genes at chromosome 10p15-p14.

Pathology

AKR1C3 is overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa) and is associated with the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In addition, AKR1C3 overexpression may serve as a promising biomarker for prostate cancer progression.