This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. In particular, the sources are split between two different structures, one with an 18-hydroxy group, and the other with an epoxy linkage, both under the name of "18-hydroxycortisol"; this split should be clarified or disambiguated.(December 2025) |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name 11β,17,18,21-Tetrahydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione | |
| Systematic IUPAC name (1S,3aS,3bS,9aR,9bS,10S,11aS)-1,10-Dihydroxy-1-(hydroxyacetyl)-11a-(hydroxymethyl)-9a-methyl-1,2,3,3a,3b,4,5,8,9,9a,9b,10,11,11a-tetradecahydro-7H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-7-one | |
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3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
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| Properties | |
| C21H30O6 | |
| Molar mass | 378.465 g·mol−1 |
| Related compounds | |
Related compounds | 18-Oxocortisol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
18-Hydroxycortisol is an endogenous steroid, [1] [2] [3] a metabolite of cortisol. [4]
18-hydroxycortisol has been proposed as a biomarker for certain diseases. In humans, 18-hydroxycortisol has no biological activity on glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid receptors. In healthy subjects, the biosynthesis of 18-hydroxycortisol is low. The highest synthesis of 18-hydroxycortisol was found in certain cases of hypertension like in type 1 familial hyperaldosteronism (glucocorticoid-curable hyperaldosteronism) and type 3 familial hyperaldosteronism, where the adrenal glands are enlarged up to six times their normal size. Increased synthesis is also found in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas. ACTH stimulation test increases urinary excretion of 18-hydroxycortisol, and dexamethasone inhibits the excretion. [4]
In patients with familial hyperaldosteronism type 1, there is a genetic crossover between specific regions of the CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 genes. This crossover results in the expression of an additional gene in the zona fasciculata, which is regulated by ACTH. The additional gene plays a role in synthesizing 18-hydroxycortisol by 18-hydroxylation of cortisol. [4] This gene also plays a role in the biosynthesis of aldosterone and 18-oxocortisol. [4]