Reduction in the incidence and severity of collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice, using exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effect of exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the onset, incidence, and severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).


METHODS
DHEA was administered subcutaneously prior to arthritis induction in DBA/1 mice, and the severity of the subsequent arthritis was monitored. Serum levels of total IgG and IgG isotype-specific anti-murine type II collagen were measured.


RESULTS
Repeated administration of DHEA during arthritis induction delayed the onset and decreased the severity of arthritis in male and female DBA/1 mice. DHEA failed to have an observable effect on established arthritis. IgG isotype autoantibody levels were found to be decreased in the sera of DHEA-treated mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of exogenous DHEA offered protection against the development of CIA. These data support the results of human studies in which low DHEA levels have been identified as a potential risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis. These findings also highlight DHEA as a potential therapy worthy of further investigation.
Williams
P J
PJ
University College London Medical School, UK.
Jones
R H
RH
Rademacher
T W
TW
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D003094:Collagen / Q000276:immunology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D001323:Autoantibodies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D003094:Collagen