Controls the reversible conversion of biologically active glucocorticoids such as 11-dehydrocorticosterone to corticosterone using NADP(H) (PubMed:12460758, PubMed:8613810, PubMed:14973125). Participates in the corticosteroid receptor-mediated anti-inflammatory response, as well as metabolic and homeostatic processes (By similarity). Bidirectional in vitro, predominantly functions as a reductase in vivo, thereby increasing the concentration of active glucocorticoids (PubMed:12460758). It has broad substrate specificity, besides glucocorticoids, it accepts other steroid and sterol substrates (PubMed:14973125). Interconverts 7-oxo- and 7-hydroxy-neurosteroids such as 7-oxopregnenolone and 7beta-hydroxypregnenolone, 7-oxodehydroepiandrosterone (3beta-hydroxy-5-androstene-7,17-dione) and 7beta-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone (3beta,7beta-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one), among others (By similarity). Catalyzes the stereo-specific conversion of the major dietary oxysterol, 7-ketocholesterol (7-oxocholesterol), into the more polar 7-beta-hydroxycholesterol metabolite (PubMed:14973125). 7-oxocholesterol is one of the most important oxysterols, it participates in several events such as induction of apoptosis, accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions, lipid peroxidation, and induction of foam cell formation (By similarity). Mediates the 7-oxo reduction of 7-oxolithocholate mainly to chenodeoxycholate, and to a lesser extent to ursodeoxycholate, both in its free form and when conjugated to glycine or taurine, providing a link between glucocorticoid activation and bile acid metabolism (By similarity). Catalyzes the synthesis of 7-beta-25-dihydroxycholesterol from 7-oxo-25-hydroxycholesterol in vitro, which acts as ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2 (EBI2) and may thereby regulate immune cell migration (By similarity). an 11beta-hydroxysteroid + NADP(+) = an 11-oxosteroid + H(+) + NADPH corticosterone + NADP(+) = 11-dehydrocorticosterone + H(+) + NADPH a 7beta-hydroxysteroid + NADP(+) = a 7-oxosteroid + H(+) + NADPH 7-oxocholesterol + H(+) + NADPH = 7beta-hydroxycholesterol + NADP(+) chenodeoxycholate + NADP(+) = 7-oxolithocholate + H(+) + NADPH 7-oxolithocholate + H(+) + NADPH = NADP(+) + ursodeoxycholate glycochenodeoxycholate + NADP(+) = 7-oxoglycolithocholate + H(+) + NADPH NADP(+) + taurochenodeoxycholate = 7-oxotaurolithocholate + H(+) + NADPH NADP(+) + tauroursodeoxycholate = 7-oxotaurolithocholate + H(+) + NADPH glycoursodeoxycholate + NADP(+) = 7-oxoglycolithocholate + H(+) + NADPH 7-oxopregnenolone + H(+) + NADPH = 7beta-hydroxypregnenolone + NADP(+) 3beta,7alpha-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one + NADP(+) = 3beta-hydroxy-5-androstene-7,17-dione + H(+) + NADPH 3beta-hydroxy-5-androstene-7,17-dione + H(+) + NADPH = 3beta,7beta-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one + NADP(+) 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstane-7,17-dione + H(+) + NADPH = 3beta,7beta-dihydroxy-5alpha-androstan-17-one + NADP(+) Homodimer. Liver, kidney, lung and testis (PubMed:2808402). Brain (PubMed:2387261). Expressed in liver (at protein level) (PubMed:21453287). Expression of both isoforms is found in 1 week-old rats. Expression increases exponentially up to 4 weeks but after this time there is no further increase up to 16 weeks. Glycosylated. Kidney-specific. Belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family.