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Pathway Description
Finasteride Action Pathway
Homo sapiens
Drug Action Pathway
Created: 2022-02-11
Last Updated: 2023-10-25
Finasteride is a synthetic 4-azasteroid molecule used as an antiandrogenic agent. This drug treats symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. It can also treat male hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia (AGA), hereditary alopecia, or common male baldness. Finasteride acts by inhibiting competitively and specifically the type II 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme, also known as 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid 4-dehydrogenase 2, converts the androgen testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and progesterone or corticosterone into their corresponding 5-alpha-3-oxosteroids. This enzyme is expressed in androgen-sensitive tissues such as the prostate (prostatic stromal cell), the hair follicles, the liver, and in the serum. The alopecia and enlarged prostate are androgen-dependent disorders that are characterized by high levels of DHT. DHT acts on androgen receptors, therefore modulating genes that are responsible for cell proliferation. As DHT appears to be the principal androgen responsible for the stimulation of prostatic growth, a decrease in DHT concentrations will result in a decrease in prostatic volume. It is suggested that increased levels of DHT can lead to potentiated transcription of prostaglandin D2, which promotes the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. However, the mechanism of action on hair loss has not been fully understood, the drug has been shown to decrease scalp DHT concentration to the levels found in the hairy scalp. The common adverse effects are erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and a loss of libido. These adverse events tend to disappear after discontinuation of finasteride intake. This drug is administered as an oral tablet.
References
Finasteride Pathway References
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Pubmed: 3174628
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