{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:25:25Z","timestamp":1760059525181,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,19]],"date-time":"2025-06-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750291200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Czech Research Health Council","award":["NU20-04-00450"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NU20-04-00450"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term disease that causes inflammation and damage to the nervous system. This study evaluated steroidomic alterations related to MS in 57 female MS patients during the follicular phase and 17 during the luteal phase, as well as in age- and phase-matched controls. The data showed that (1) unconjugated and conjugated steroids were strongly linked between the blood and CSF. (2) MS patients have lower levels of unconjugated steroids compared to controls. However, unchanged levels of conjugated steroids suggest a possible increase in steroid sulfotransferase functioning. (3) MS patients show altered levels of steroids linked to 11\u03b2-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) function. While direct enzyme activity was not measured, disrupted cortisol biosynthesis\u2014potentially linked to reduced functioning of both CYP11B1 and 17\u03b1-hydroxylase\/17,20-lyase\u2014is associated with more severe cases of MS. (4) Reduced levels of 5\u03b1\/\u03b2-steroids and protective GABAergic 3\u03b1-hydroxy-5\u03b1\/\u03b2-steroids in MS patients might be linked to the pathophysiology of MS. (5) A potential increase in AKR1C3 function in MS could contribute to inflammation, as this enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of both steroids and prostaglandins. However, direct measurements of enzyme activity are needed to confirm this hypothesis. (6) Lower pregnenolone levels in MS patients might weaken neuroprotection, while higher pregnenolone sulfate levels could support cognitive function. (7) Lower levels of protective pregnenolone, DHEA, and androstenediol were associated with worse MS, suggesting these steroids may help shield against the disease.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26125904","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,19]],"date-time":"2025-06-19T08:43:58Z","timestamp":1750322638000},"page":"5904","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Steroidomic Changes in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Women with Multiple Sclerosis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Radmila","family":"Kancheva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Endocrinology, 11000 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9543-4359","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eva","family":"Kubala Havrdov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 12808 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marta","family":"Vel\u00edkov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Endocrinology, 11000 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ludmila","family":"Kancheva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Endocrinology, 11000 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6546-0580","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josef","family":"V\u010del\u00e1k","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Endocrinology, 11000 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Radek","family":"Ampapa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"MS Center, Jihlava Hospital, 58633 Jihlava, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michal","family":"\u017did\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurology 3FM CU and UHKV, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 12808 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2699-1124","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ivana","family":"\u0160t\u011btk\u00e1\u0159ov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurology 3FM CU and UHKV, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 12808 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1938-6946","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tereza","family":"\u0160kodov\u00e1","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Endocrinology, 11000 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1705-0835","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martin","family":"Hill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Endocrinology, 11000 Prague, Czech Republic"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1111\/imm.13004","article-title":"Impact of sex hormones on immune function and multiple sclerosis development","volume":"156","author":"Ysrraelit","year":"2019","journal-title":"Immunology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sparaco, M., and Bonavita, S. 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