Korean J Intern Med.
2008 Dec;23(4):176-181. 10.3904/kjim.2008.23.4.176.
Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on Th2 cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthmatics
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Allergy, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. ischoi@chonnam.chonnam.ac.kr
- 2Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
- 3Department of Otolaryngology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
- 4Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
- 5Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
- KMID: 1100765
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2008.23.4.176
Abstract
- BACKGROUND/AIMS: The androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) attenuates allergic inflammatory airway reactions by down-regulating the Th2 response in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether DHEA suppresses Th2 cytokine production in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from asthmatic patients. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive suspected asthmatic or non-asthmatic men underwent tests for asthma. PBMCs from each subject were cultured with and without DHEA (0.01~10 micrometer) for 48 h. The concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-5, and IL-10 in the culture supernatant were measured via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In PBMCs from subjects exhibiting methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), DHEA significantly suppressed IL-10, IL-5, and IFN-gamma production in a dose-dependent manner (all p<0.001) and tended to increase the IFN-gamma/IL-5 ratio (p=0.087). DHEA (10 micrometer) suppressed cytokine production to a greater degree in subjects with AHR compared with those without AHR (IL-5: 24.0+/-7.8% vs. 40.9+/-3.6%, p<0.01; IFN-gamma: 29.7+/-7.0% vs. 54.5+/-5.1%, p<0.01). Cytokine suppression was significantly related to AHR, serum total IgE levels, and skin reactivity to house dust mites. CONCLUSIONS: DHEA suppressed both Th1 and Th2 responses, with a Th1 bias, and the degree of suppression was associated with the severity of AHR or atopy. Therefore, DHEA may be a useful therapy for asthma.
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