madman
Super Moderator
* With CLASH-free, we will improve the clinical applicability of free steroid hormone concentrations in patients with specific conditions by using state-of-the-art methods.
Project Summary
Steroid hormones such as testosterone or vitamin D are vital for human physiology. In circulation, steroid hormones bind to specific binding proteins and albumin, with only a small fraction circulating freely. The ‘free hormone hypothesis’ suggests that this free fraction is responsible for biological activity. Though experimental and clinical data support this, routinely available methods measure total hormone levels. Relying on total hormone levels could lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment, especially in conditions where binding protein production is altered (e.g. obesity, pregnancy). Direct free hormone measurements are not available in clinical routine. Formulas to estimate free steroid hormone concentrations are used instead, but their applicability in many clinical conditions is questionable, so is the correctness of therapeutic actions based on these results.
With CLASH-free, we will improve the clinical applicability of free steroid hormone concentrations in patients with specific conditions by using state-of-the-art methods. We will first survey current clinical practices in steroid measurements. Next, we will develop methods for direct free steroid hormone measurements and investigate the reliability of free hormones in conditions with alterations in binding protein production. Based on these findings, we will improve current formulas to better estimate free hormone levels. Finally, we will investigate the clinical relevance of free steroid hormones.
Research Portal - The Changing Landscape in the Assessment of Steroid Hormone concentrations: is it time to let them free? (CLASH-free)
Steroid hormones such as testosterone or vitamin D are vital forhuman physiology. In circulation, steroid hormones bind to specificbinding proteins and albumin, with only a small fraction circulatingfreely. The ‘free hormone hypothesis’ suggests that this free fractionis responsible for...
research.kuleuven.be
Project Summary
Steroid hormones such as testosterone or vitamin D are vital for human physiology. In circulation, steroid hormones bind to specific binding proteins and albumin, with only a small fraction circulating freely. The ‘free hormone hypothesis’ suggests that this free fraction is responsible for biological activity. Though experimental and clinical data support this, routinely available methods measure total hormone levels. Relying on total hormone levels could lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment, especially in conditions where binding protein production is altered (e.g. obesity, pregnancy). Direct free hormone measurements are not available in clinical routine. Formulas to estimate free steroid hormone concentrations are used instead, but their applicability in many clinical conditions is questionable, so is the correctness of therapeutic actions based on these results.
With CLASH-free, we will improve the clinical applicability of free steroid hormone concentrations in patients with specific conditions by using state-of-the-art methods. We will first survey current clinical practices in steroid measurements. Next, we will develop methods for direct free steroid hormone measurements and investigate the reliability of free hormones in conditions with alterations in binding protein production. Based on these findings, we will improve current formulas to better estimate free hormone levels. Finally, we will investigate the clinical relevance of free steroid hormones.
