Maternal 11-Ketoandrostenedione Rises Through Normal Pregnancy and Is the Dominant 11-Oxygenated Androgen in Cord Blood

Context: Adrenal-derived 11-oxygenated androgens (11oAs) are known important contributors to human physiology and disease but have not been studied in pregnancy.

Objective: We characterize 11oAs in normal human pregnancy and neonatal period and assess the ratios between 11oAs and compare with ratios of other steroids that undergo placental metabolism.

Design: Prospective cohort study, 2010-2018.

Setting: Academic institution.

Patients: Pairs of pregnant women and newborns (n = 120) were studied. Inclusion criteria were maternal age between 18 and 42 years old, spontaneous singleton pregnancies, and intention to deliver at University of Michigan.

Intervention: Maternal venous blood was collected during first trimester and at term. Neonatal cord blood was collected following delivery. Steroids were measured via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Main outcome measures: Levels of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4), 11-ketoandrostenedione (11KA4), 11β-hydroxytestosterone, and 11-ketotestoterone (11KT) in maternal first trimester, maternal term, and neonatal cord blood were compared. 11OHA4-to-11KA4 ratios were correlated with cortisol-to-cortisone ratios.

Results: Dominant 11oAs in pregnancy and the cord blood are 11OHA4 and 11KA4, compared to 11OHA4 and 11KT in adult men and nonpregnant women. We found a rise in 11oA concentrations, particularly 11KA4, from first to third trimester. In cord blood, the concentration of 11KA4 exceeded those of both 11OHA4 and 11KT, reflecting placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11βHSD2) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD2) activities, respectively. 11OHA4-to-11KA4 ratios are concordant with cortisol-to-cortisone ratios across all maternal and fetal compartments, reflecting placental 11βHSD2 activity.

Conclusions: Placental 17βHSD2 activity defends the fetus against the androgen 11KT. Our normative values may be used in future studies of 11oAs in complicated pregnancies.