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Prohormone activation by the brain enriched cytochrome P450 Cyp7b: relationship with ageing and cognitive function

ReferenceSAG10011
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Joyce Yau
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Professor Richard Lathe, Professor Jonathan Seckl
Institution University of Edinburgh
DepartmentCentre for Reproductive Biology
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 152,137
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 15/02/1999
End date 15/02/2002
Duration36 months

Abstract

Circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels fall dramatically with ageing, DHEA improves memory in rodents and perceived well-being in middle-aged humans but, although it has been suggested to antagonise the deleterious effects of glucocorticoids, its mechanism of action is obscure. We have recently cloned and characterised a novel cytochrome P450, Cyp7b, predominantly expressed in brain, which converts DHEA to 7 alpha-hydroxyDHEA (7HD), an active metabolite that directly antagonises the glucocorticoid response. We propose to determine 1) the relationship between Cyp7b substrates and products (tissue and circulating levels), and Cyp7b expression with cognition and ageing and 2) the central effects of 7HD and related Cyp7b products in ageing rodents.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative Initiative on Science of Ageing (SAG) [1998]
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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