The production of DHEA and its role

Dehydroepiandrosterone is produced from cholesterol through two cytochrome P450 enzymes. Cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone by the enzyme P450 scc (side chain cleavage); then another enzyme, CYP17A1, converts pregnenolone to 17α-Hydroxypregnenolone and then to DHEA. . Dehydroepiandrosterone can be understood as a prohormone for the sex steroids. DHEAS may be viewed as buffer and reservoir. As most Dehydroepiandrosterone is produced by the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex, it is argued that there is a role in the immune and stress response.