Dehydroepiandrosterone treatment is not beneficial to the immune response to influenza in elderly subjects.
BACKGROUND
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a native steroid with an immunomodulating activity that was suggested to counter-regulate some phenomena of immunosenescence. Recently, it was shown to reverse the age-associated decline of immune response against influenza vaccine in aged mice. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of DHEA on the immunization of elderly volunteers against influenza.


METHODS
Seventy-one elderly volunteers age 61-89 yr were enrolled in a prospective randomized, double-blind study to receive either DHEA (50 mg qd p.o. for four consecutive days starting two days before immunization) or placebo. Antibody response to the vaccine was measured before and 28 days after vaccination.


RESULTS
DHEA treatment significantly increased serum DHEA-sulfate (DHEA-S). No enhancement in established immunity was observed. A significant decrease in attainment of protective antibody titer (1:40 or higher) against the A/Texas strain in subjects with nonprotective baseline antibody titer was recorded following DHEA treatment compared with placebo (52% vs. 84%, P < 0.05). Baseline DHEA-S serum levels were inversely related to attainment of immunization in DHEA-treated subjects. Influenza-like morbidity during the winter was low in the study group with no difference between the DHEA and placebo groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Although highly effective in aged rodents, a short course of DHEA treatment did not improve the age-related declined response to immunization against influenza in human subjects. Higher baseline DHEA-S levels are not predictive of better immunization against influenza in the elderly.
Danenberg
H D
HD
Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Karem, Israel.
Ben-Yehuda
A
A
Zakay-Rones
Z
Z
Gross
D J
DJ
Friedman
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone