Suppressive effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on the development of asthmatic reaction in BALB/c mice.
- Author:
Yong CUI
1
;
Inseon S CHOI
;
Youngil I KOH
;
Young Ah KOH
;
Hyun Chul LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Allergy, Chonnam National University Medical School and Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea. ischoi@chonnam.chonnam.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
dehydroepiandrosterone;
hypersensitivity;
inflammation;
cytokines;
mice
- MeSH:
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
- From:Journal of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
2004;24(1):116-126
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
