Regulation of sex-hormone-binding globulin production by endogenous estrogens in vitro

The effect of endogenous estrogens on sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) production was studied in HepG2 cells. 17β-estradiol, estrone, and estrogens from both 2-and 16α-hydroxylative pathways stimulated SHBG production, but not in parallel with their binding affinities for the estrogen receptor. Thus, the underlying mechanism may be other than a pure interaction with the estrogen receptor.