Chonnam Med J.  2002 Dec;38(4):297-303.

Cytokine Profile and Resistance to Candida albicans Infection in Dehydroepiandrosterone-treated Mice

• Na HS
• Kim MW
• Chang MY
• Kang IC
• Oh JS
• Lee HC

Abstract

The opportunistic fungus Candida albicans (CA) has a marked propensity to cause infections in persons with impaired immunity. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a native adrenal steroid hormone, exhibits a marked decline in production with progressive age and its immunomodulating functions are recently reported. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of exogenously administered DHEA on Th1/Th2-related or proinflammatory cytokine production and the host resistance to CA infection were evaluated in an immunocompromised mouse model. Activated splenocytes from DHEA-treated animals showed a regulatory activity to produce more IFN-gamma and less IL-4, while glucocorticosteroid (GCS) showed a reduced capacity to produce IFN-gamma, leaving IL-4 as the major TCGF. DHEA enhanced in vitro TNF-alpha production by peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS. DHEA treatment also reversed GCS-induced depression in IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production. Immune complexes, composed of OVA and anti-OVA antibody, and GCS caused a significant decrease in the resistance against CA. When DHEA was supplemented to GCS-treated mice, some protective effect against CA infection was observed (p=0.05). These findings suggest that the protective effect of DHEA on the host immunity against CA is associated with restoration of Th1 immunity and the steroid showed therapeutic potential in CA infections of immunocompromised patients.

Keyword

Dehydroepiandrosterone; Cytokine; Candida albicans

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antigen-Antibody Complex
Candida albicans*
Candida*
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Depression
Fungi
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Macrophages, Peritoneal
Mice*
Ovum
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Antigen-Antibody Complex
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha