Estetrol


Estetrol, or oestetrol, is a weak estrogen steroid hormone which is found in detectable levels only during pregnancy. It is produced exclusively by the fetal liver. Estetrol is closely related to estriol, which is also a weak estrogen that is found in high quantities only during pregnancy. Along with estradiol, estrone, and estriol, estetrol is a major estrogen in the body, although only during pregnancy.
In addition to its role as a natural hormone, estetrol is under clinical development for use as a medication, for instance in menopausal hormone therapy; for information on estetrol as a medication, see the estetrol article.

Biological function

Estetrol is an estrogen and has estrogenic effects in various tissues. So far the physiological function of estetrol is unknown. The possible use of estetrol as a marker for fetal well-being has been studied quite extensively. However, due to the large intra- and inter-individual variation of maternal estetrol plasma levels during pregnancy this appeared not to be feasible.

Biological activity

Estetrol is an agonist of the estrogen receptors, and hence is an estrogen. It has moderate affinity for the ERα and ERβ, with Ki values of 4.9 nM and 19 nM, respectively. As such, estetrol has 4- to 5-fold preference for the ERα over the ERβ. The estrogen has low affinity for the ERs relative to estradiol, and both estetrol and the related estrogen estriol require substantially higher concentrations than estradiol to produce similar effects to estradiol. The affinity of estetrol for the ERs is about 0.3% to 6.25% of that of estradiol, and its in vivo potency in animals is about 2 to 3% of that of estradiol. Estetrol shows high selectivity for the ERs.

Biochemistry

Biosynthesis

Estetrol is synthesized during pregnancy only in the fetal liver from estradiol and estriol by the two enzymes 15α- and 16α-hydroxylase. Alternatively, estetrol is synthesized with 15α-hydroxylation of 16α-hydroxy-DHEA sulfate as an intermediate step. It appears in maternal serum at around week 9 of pregnancy. After birth the neonatal liver rapidly loses its capacity to synthesize estetrol because these two enzymes are no longer expressed.
Estetrol reaches the maternal circulation through the placenta and was already detected at nine weeks of pregnancy in maternal urine. During the second trimester of pregnancy high levels were found in maternal plasma, with steadily rising concentrations of unconjugated estetrol to about 1 ng/mL towards the end of pregnancy.

Distribution

In terms of plasma protein binding, estetrol is moderately bound to albumin, and is not bound to sex hormone-binding globulin.

Metabolism

Estetrol is metabolized minimally, if at all. It is conjugated via glucuronidation and to a lesser extent sulfation and then excreted.

Excretion

Estetrol is excreted mostly or completely in urine.

Chemistry

Estetrol, also known as 15α-hydroxyestriol or as estra-1,3,5-triene-3,15α,16α,17β-tetrol, is a naturally occurring estrane steroid and derivative of estrin. It has four hydroxyl groups, which explains the abbreviation E4.

Synthesis

of estetrol have been published.

History

Estetrol was discovered in 1965 by Egon Diczfalusy and coworkers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, via isolation from the urine of pregnant women.