An Alternate Pathway for Cortisol Metabolism: 6β-Hydroxycortisol Production by Human Tissue Slices

Abstract

The in vitro conversion of 4-C¹⁴-cortisol to 4-C¹⁴-6β-hydroxycortisol by human tissue slices was studied. Liver, adrenal, kidney, placenta and skeletal muscle were all capable of this conversion. Liver displayed the most activity in this regard and was also the only tissue studied which demonstrated a response to the addition of estrone. The conversion of 4-C¹⁴-cortisol to 4-C¹⁴-tetrahydrocortisol (THF) and 4-C¹⁴-tetrahydrocortisone (THE) by liver slices was depressed by estrone while 6β-hydroxylation was concurrently increased. These data corroborate previous in vivo findings and indicate that 6β- hydroxylation may represent a truly compensatory route of metabolism for cortisol.