Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and idiopathic hirsutism (IH) are androgen excess disorders requiring the determination of classic androgen levels for diagnosis. 11-oxygenated androgens have high androgenic potential, yet their clinical value in those disorders is not clear. Additionally, the role of endocrine disruptors (EDs), particularly in IH, remains understudied. We analyzed 25 steroids and 18 EDs in plasma samples from women with IH, PCOS, and controls using LC-MS/MS. Cytokine levels and metabolic parameters were assessed. Comparisons included non-obese women with PCOS (n = 10), women with IH (n = 12) and controls (n = 20), and non-obese versus obese women with PCOS (n = 9). Higher levels of 11-oxygenated androgens were observed in women with PCOS compared to those with IH, but not controls. Conversely, 11-oxygenated androgen levels were lower in women with IH compared to controls. Cytokine levels did not differ between women with IH and controls. Bisphenol A (BPA) levels were higher in obese women with PCOS compared to non-obese women with PCOS. Bisphenol S occurrence was higher in women with PCOS (90%) compared to controls (65%) and IH (50%). Significant correlations were found between androgens (11-ketotestosterone, androstenedione, testosterone) and insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as between immunomodulatory 7-oxygenated metabolites of DHEA and nine interleukins. Our data confirms that PCOS is a multiendocrine gland disorder. Higher BPA levels in obese women might exacerbate metabolic abnormalities. IH was not confirmed as an inflammatory state, and no differences in BPA levels suggest BPA does not play a role in IH pathogenesis.

• Keywords
• 11-hydroxytestosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, 11-oxygenated androgen, bisphenol A, bisphenol S, endocrine disruptor, idiopathic hirsutism, polycystic ovary syndrome,
• MeSH
• Androgens * blood   metabolism   MeSH
• Benzhydryl Compounds blood   MeSH
• Cytokines blood   metabolism   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Endocrine Disruptors * blood   MeSH
• Phenols MeSH
• Hirsutism * blood   etiology   chemically induced   MeSH
• Hyperandrogenism blood   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Obesity blood   metabolism   MeSH
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome * blood   metabolism   MeSH
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Androgens * MeSH
• Benzhydryl Compounds MeSH
• bisphenol A MeSH Browser
• Cytokines MeSH
• Endocrine Disruptors * MeSH
• Phenols MeSH

Recent molecular biology findings have shown that for the penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus into host cells, a key role is played by protease serine 2, the activity of which is dependent on androgens. The important role of androgens is also evidenced by clinical observations that men in some age categories are infected by this novel coronavirus up to two times more frequently than women. In addition, men with androgenic alopecia tend to have more serious clinical courses, while men with androgen deprivation as a result of prostate cancer treatments tend to have milder courses. This is in line with the fact that preadolescent children are only rarely sickened with serious forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Even though these observations may be explained by other factors, many authors have hypothesized that lowered androgen levels and blocking their activity using anti-androgen medication may moderate the course of the viral infection in intermediately- to critically-affected cases. Clearly, it would be important for androgen deprivation to block not just gonadal androgens, but also adrenal androgens. On the other hand, low androgen levels are considered to be a risk factor for the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections, either because low androgen levels have a general effect on anabolic-catabolic equilibrium and energy metabolism, or because of the ability of testosterone to modify the immune system. It is not yet clear if infection with this novel coronavirus might induce hypogonadism, leading to undesirable side effects on male fertility.

• MeSH
• Androgens metabolism   MeSH
• COVID-19 metabolism   physiopathology   virology   MeSH
• Fertility MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Host-Pathogen Interactions MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infertility, Male metabolism   physiopathology   virology   MeSH
• Sex Characteristics MeSH
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones metabolism   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity   MeSH
• Sex Factors MeSH
• Age Factors MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Androgens MeSH
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones MeSH

Androgens represent the main hormones responsible for maintaining hormonal balance and function in the prostate and testis. As they are involved in prostate and testicular carcinogenesis, more detailed information of their active concentration at the site of action is required. Since the introduction of the term intracrinology as the local formation of active steroid hormones from inactive precursors of the adrenal gland, mainly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-S, it is evident that blood circulating levels of sex steroid hormones need not reflect their actual concentrations in the tissue. Here, we review and critically evaluate available methods for the analysis of human intraprostatic and intratesticular steroid concentrations. Since analytical approaches have much in common in both tissues, we discuss them together. Preanalytical steps, including various techniques for separation of the analytes, are compared, followed by the end-point measurement. Advantages and disadvantages of chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS, GC-MS), immunoanalytical methods (IA), and hybrid (LC-IA) are discussed. Finally, the clinical information value of the determined steroid hormones is evaluated concerning differentiating between patients with cancer or benign hyperplasia and between patients with different degrees of infertility. Adrenal-derived 11-oxygenated androgens are mentioned as perspective prognostic markers for these purposes.

• Keywords
• androgens, biomarkers, cancer, determination, disease prediction, methods, prostate, testes,
• MeSH
• Androgens metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adrenal Glands metabolism   MeSH
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones metabolism   MeSH
• Prostate metabolism   MeSH
• Steroids metabolism   MeSH
• Testis metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Androgens MeSH
• Gonadal Steroid Hormones MeSH
• Steroids MeSH