Cytochrome P450c17, encoded by the CYP17 gene, is a component of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase which catalyses 17alpha-hydroxylation of pregnenolone or progesterone, required for glucocorticosteroid and androgen synthesis. It has been reported that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) decreases both basal and cAMP-stimulated levels of CYP17 mRNA, but the mechanism of TGF-beta action on CYP17 expression remains unknown. We investigated an inhibitory effect of TGF-beta on CYP17 expression in H295R cells using constructs containing the CYP17 promoter region fused with the luciferase gene. In the H295R cells, TGF-beta decreased endogenous SF-1 level and inhibited activity of the 300 bp fragment of CYP17 promoter, which was stimulated by coexpression of SF-1. Overexpression of SMAD3 caused an inhibition of SF-1-stimulated CYP17 promoter activity, whereas overexpression of SMAD7 was ineffective. In conclusion, our results suggest that the inhibitory action of TGF-beta on CYP17 transcription involve at least two mechanisms: SMAD3 dependent inactivation of CYP17 promoter activity and repression of SF-1 expression.