Las hormonas esteroides y el páncreas: Un nuevo paradigma

The relation between steroid hormones and pancreatic function has been poorly discussed and not very well understood. In general, there is a lack of recognition among the scientific community about the importance of steroids in pancreatic function (current paradigm). In the present article we present basic, as well as clinic and epidemiologic data that demonstrate steroid synthesis and steroid biotransformation by pancreatic tissue, how exocrine and endocrine functions are modulated by steroids, the gender specific frequency and behavior of some tumors and the use of synthetic steroids and steroid action antagonists as therapeutic agents. With the available information it is possible to establish that: 1. Pancreatic tissue synthesize and transform steroid hormones. 2. Pancreatic tissue respond to steroid hormones and express steroid specific receptor molecules. 3. Some endocrine functions such as insulin synthesis and release are modulated by steroids. 4. Tumor growth is modulated by steroids and anti-steroid drugs. This set of data creates a new paradigm for the holistic study of pancreas and opens new research fields. The application of this new paradigm might result in an increase in the knowledge of pancreatic physiology, in the design of new and better diagnostic methods and eventually in the design of more effective medical treatments for the pancreatic cancers. La relacion de las hormonas esteroides con el pancreas ha sido muy poco explorada y comprendida y no se concede en general que exista una interaccion relevante entre su funcion y los esteroides endogenos o exogenos (paradigma actual). En esta revision se presentan datos de modelos experimentales y de estudios clinicos y epidemiologicos que demuestran que existe una clara relacion entre la biotransformacion y el efecto de las hormonas esteroides y la fisiopatologia del pancreas. Con la informacion disponible se puede establecer que: 1. El pancreas es un organo que sintetiza y transforma hormonas esteroides. 2. Que expresa receptores especificos para este tipo de substancias. 3. Que algunas de sus funciones como la sintesis y liberacion de la insulina pueden ser modulados por la accion de esteroides gonadales. 4. Que el crecimiento tumoral puede ser inducido o frenado por la accion de esteroides y antiesteroides. Estas relaciones establecen un nuevo paradigma en el estudio de la fisiopatologia del pancreas y abren nuevas lineas de investigacion para el avance del conocimiento y su eventual aplicacion clinica.