6β-hydroxy Dexamethasone (Synonyms: 6-hydroxyDEX, 6β-hydroxydexamethasone, 6OH-DEX)

6β-hydroxy Dexamethasone is a metabolite of dexamethasone that is more hydrophilic than the parent compound. Dexamethasone is metabolized by CYP3A4; therefore, quantification of the dexamethasone metabolites, 6α- and 6β-hydroxy dexamethasone, can be used to determine CYP3A4 enzyme activity in humans., The formation of 6-hydroxy dexamethasone metabolites is species-specific, with hamsters producing the highest amount. In rats, dexamethasone hydroxylation is sex-specific, with male rats producing metabolites in similar ratios to humans and female rats producing fewer hydroxylated metabolites than male rats.

References:
[1].Minagawa, K., Kasuya, Y., Baba, S., et al. Identification and quantification of 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone as a major urinary metabolite of dexamethasone in man Steroids 47(2-3), 175-188 (1986).
[2].Gentile, D.M., Tomlinson, E.S., Maggs, J.L., et al. Dexamethasone metabolism by human liver in vitro. Metabolite identification and inhibition of 6-hydroxylation J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 277(1), 105-112 (1996).
[3]. Zurbonsen, K., Bressolle, F., Solassol, I., et al. Simultaneous determination of dexamethasone and 6β-hydroxydexamethasone in urine using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography: Applications to in vivo measurement of cytochrome P450 3A4 activity J. Chomatogr. B Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life Sci. 804(2), 421-429 (2004).
[4].Tomlinson, E.S., Maggs, J.L., Park, B.K., et al. Dexamethasone Metabolism in vitro: Species differences J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 62(4), 345-352 (1997).