östrogeeni

Östrogeeni is not a standard term in Swedish biology; it is sometimes used informally to refer to genes involved in estrogen biology—production, metabolism, signaling or regulation. The phrase can thus denote genetic elements that influence how estrogens are made, how they act in the body, or how their effects are coordinated.

Estrogens are steroid hormones essential for sexual development, reproduction and various tissues such as bone, cardiovascular system and brain. The principal estrogens in humans are estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and estriol (E3). Most estrogen production occurs through aromatization of androgens by the enzyme aromatase, encoded by CYP19A1. Aromatase activity happens in several tissues, including ovaries, adipose tissue and the brain, with regulation driven by hormonal signals and tissue-specific factors.

Genes involved in estrogen signaling include ESR1 and ESR2, which encode estrogen receptor alpha and beta and mediate transcriptional responses when bound by estrogen. GPER1 encodes a membrane-associated estrogen receptor. Other genes influence steroidogenesis and availability of estrogen precursors, such as CYP17A1 and various 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD17B family), as well as STAR and CYP11A1. Genetic variation in these components can affect estrogen levels, receptor sensitivity and downstream physiological effects on bone, reproductive tissues and metabolism.

Clinical relevance includes conditions related to altered estrogen pathways, such as pubertal timing disorders, osteoporosis, infertility and risk changes for certain cancers (e.g., breast and endometrial cancer). Environmental factors and endocrine disruptors that interfere with estrogen signaling are also of public health interest. See also estrogen, aromatase (CYP19A1), and estrogen receptors (ESR1, ESR2).