IUBio

MS, Optic Neuritis & ACNE & 3b-HSD (I)

Teresa Binstock binstoct at essex.hsc.colorado.edu
Tue Jul 4 19:53:25 EST 1995


           OPTIC NEURITIS / MS    &    ACNE with MILD HIRSUTISM

       3-beta HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE CONNECTION (Type I) ? ? ?


BACKGOUND:

I.   3b-HSD (Type I) is described as occurring in placenta and skin of
humans. The skin localization suggests there might also be neuronal/glial
localization in humans.
II.  Late onset 3b-HSD deficiency is usually described in terms of Type II,
localizing in adrenals and gonads. 
III. 3b-HSD shunts some pregnenolone into progesterone, allowing some
pregnenolone to proceed to 17-OHP and then to DHEA, DHEAS, etc.
IV.  Lower levels of progesterone in the immediate vicinity of neurons/glia
are known to induce demyelination.
V.   Increased DHEA and DHEAS are strongly associated with Acne and/or
Hirsutism.
VI.  'Twould seem that late onset 3b-HSD deficiency would lower progesterone
and increase DHEA and DHEAS in skin and in vicintiy of neurons and glia.
Several clinical symptoms might occur in the same person:
     A. Acne and or Hirsutism
     B. Optic Neuritis, possibly as a precursor to Multiple Sclerosis.


QUESTIONS:

1.   Has anyone some references that report or discuss this kind of co-
occurrence of symptoms?
2.   Might someone critique the causal pathway suggested here as capable of
generating the aforementioned symptoms co-occurrences?


Thank you,

Teresa Binstock, Researcher



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