We report characterization of a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily encoded in a human gene, DHRS11. The recombinant protein (DHRS11) efficiently catalyzed the conversion of the 17-keto group of estrone, 4- and 5-androstenes and 5 alpha-androstanes into their 17 beta-hydroxyl metabolites with NADPH as a coenzyme. In contrast, it exhibited reductive 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity toward 5 beta-androstanes, 5 beta-pregnanes, 4-pregnenes and bile acids. Additionally, DHRS11 reduced alpha-dicarbonyls (such as diacetyl and methylglyoxal) and alicyclic ketones (such as 1-indanone and loxoprofen). The enzyme activity was inhibited in a mixed-type manner by flavonoids, and competitively by carbenoxolone, glycyrrhetinic acid, zearalenone, curcumin and flufenamic acid. The expression of DHRS11 mRNA was observed widely in human tissues, most abundantly in testis, small intestine, colon, kidney and cancer cell lines. Thus, DHRS11 represents a novel type of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with unique catalytic properties and tissue distribution. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.