J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2004 Mar;24(1):116-126.

Suppressive effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on the development of asthmatic reaction in BALB/c mice

• Cui Y
• Choi IS
• Koh YI
• Koh YA
• Lee HC

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal androgen, may regulate Th1/Th2 cytokines.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether DHEA have a preventive effect against the development of asthma, a Th2-associated disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Female BALB/c mice were fed with a standard diet incorporated with 0.1% (w/w) of DHEA for 1 week before sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA, 20 microgram i.p. twice with 2-week intervals). Enhanced pause (Penh) was monitored after 1% OVA inhalations for 3 successive days, and then the methacholine bronchoprovocation tests were performed using a whole-body plethysmography system. Analyses of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and OVA-specific IgE were carried out. RESULTS: Both the excessive airway narrowing (maximum Penh) and the airway hypersensitivity (PC200, mg/mL) to methacholine were significantly suppressed with the DHEA pretreatment (P<.05 and P<.01, respectively). However, the numbers of the inflammatory cells and the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the production of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma by Con A-stimulated splenocytes, and the serum IgE level in DHEA group were not significantly different from those in asthma group. CONCLUSION: DHEA pretreatment could suppress the development of asthmatic airway hyperresponsiveness without suppression of Th2 cytokines and airway inflammation.

Keyword

dehydroepiandrosterone; hypersensitivity; inflammation; cytokines; mice

MeSH Terms

Animals
Asthma
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Cytokines
Dehydroepiandrosterone*
Diet
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Inflammation
Interferons
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Methacholine Chloride
Mice*
Ovalbumin
Ovum
Plethysmography
Cytokines
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Immunoglobulin E
Interferons
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-5
Interleukins
Methacholine Chloride
Ovalbumin