Catecholestrogens in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Hidden Role
Sex hormones are implicated in immune response, with estrogens acting as enhancers, and metabolism of estrogen takes place primarily in the liver through Phase I (hydroxylation) and Phase II pathways with ultimate excretion in the urine and feces.
Abstract
Sex hormones are implicated in immune response, with estrogens acting as enhancers [10]. Estrogens not only have anti-inflammatory but also pro-inflammatory roles depending upon different influencing factors [66]. Metabolism of estrogen within the body is a complex and important subject. Estrone and estradiol are biochemically interconvertable and yield the same family of estrogen metabolites. The metabolism of estrogen takes place primarily in the liver through Phase I (hydroxylation) and Phase II (methylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation) pathways with ultimate excretion in the urine and feces [26].