Sex hormone binding globulin

You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.

Crystal structure of SHBG binding dihydrotestosterone. From PDB 1D2S.[1]
Sex hormone-binding globulin, Androgen-binding protein
Identifiers
Symbol	SHBG
Alt. Symbols	ABP
Entrez	6462
HUGO	10839
OMIM	182205
RefSeq	NM_001040
UniProt	P04278
Other data
Locus	Chr. 17 p13-p12

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein that binds to sex hormones, specifically testosterone and estradiol. Other steroid hormones such as progesterone, cortisol, and other corticosteroids are bound by transcortin.

Transport of sex hormones

These sex hormones circulate in the bloodstream, bound mostly to SHBG and to some degree bound to serum albumin. Only a small fraction is unbound, or "free," and thus biologically active and able to enter a cell and activate its receptor. The SHBG inhibits the function of these hormones. Thus bioavailability of sex hormones is influenced by the level of SHBG.

SHBG production

SHBG is produced by the liver cells and is released into the bloodstream. Other sites that produce SHBG are the brain, uterus, and placenta and vagina. In addition SHBG is produced by the testes; testes-produced SHBG is also called androgen-binding protein. The gene for SHBG is located on chromosome 17.

Control

SHBG levels appear to be controlled by a delicate balance of enhancing and inhibiting factors. Its level is decreased by high levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Also, high androgen levels decrease SHBG, while high estrogen and thyroxine levels increase it.

Conditions with high or low levels

Conditions with low SHBG include polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, and hypothyroidism. Conditions with high SHBG include pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, and anorexia nervosa. There has recently been research to link high SHBG levels with breast and testicular cancer as well.

Measurement of sex hormones

When determining levels of circulating estradiol or testosterone, either a total measurement could be done that includes the "free" and the bound fractions, or only the "free" hormone could be measured. A free androgen index expresses the ratio of testosterone to the sex hormone binding globulin and can be used to summarise the activity of free testosterone.

See also

• Androgen binding protein

References

v • d • e Proteins: carrier proteins
Hormone	Follistatin - Growth hormone binding protein - Insulin-like growth factor binding protein - Neurophysins (Neurophysin I, II) Sex hormone binding globulin/Androgen binding protein - Transcortin - Thyroxine-binding globulin - Transthyretin
Metal/element	calcium (Calcium-binding protein, Calmodulin-binding proteins) - copper (Ceruloplasmin) - iron (Iron-binding proteins, Transferrin receptor)
Vitamin	Retinol binding protein (4) - Transcobalamin
Other	Acyl carrier protein - Adaptor protein - Cholesterylester transfer protein - F-box protein - GTP-binding protein - Latent TGF-beta binding protein - Light-harvesting complex - Membrane transport protein

v • d • e Globulins: beta globulins
Angiostatin - Haemopexin - Beta-2 microglobulin - Factor H - Plasminogen - Properdin - Sex hormone binding globulin - Transferrin

WikiDoc Help Menu Quick Start.. Get Started Here! How to Login How to Search Pages How to Start a New Page How to Edit a Page Cheat Sheet Editing basics Learning Basic Formatting How to make Links in WikiDoc & to External Sites How to Make Lists How to Ignoring Formatting Adding References or Footnotes to Articles Tracking Changes You Have Made How to Put an Article Into a Category When Multiple Topics Should Go To The Same Page (MI, Acute MI, AMI) Using Redirection Advanced editing How to Make Tables How to Insert Images and Other Media How to Add Video Help:How to Make Columns Web Colors How To Make Templates How to Move Pages Inserting Dynamic Dates and Times Inserting WikiDoc Statistics Editing the Table of Contents Communicating your edits Let others know what you changed: The importance of Edit Summaries Minor Edits Edit Conflicts Help Videos You Can Watch Getting Started Video

Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .