The novel role of 11 ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 in nonmelanoma skin cancer development and progression

Background: 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11βHSD2) deactivates cortisol to cortisone. It is up-regulated in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) cells. We found that glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-mediated inhibition of 11βHSD2 protein caused a significant reduction in tumor number, weight, incidence, and signi ficant delay in tumor onset. In addition to the use of specific inhibitors such as GA to sustain the bioavailability of glucocorticoids (GC), modifying the structure of GC molecule to prevent inactivation by 11βHSD2 is an additional way to control the action of 11βHSD2.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Source Type: research