title: 7Beta-OH-DHEA counteracts dexamethasone induced suppression of primary immune response in murine spleenocytes.
abstract: The effect of dexamethasone and of three potential antiglucocorticoids, namely dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its 7alpha-and 7beta-hydroxylated metabolites, on primary immune response has been studied by measuring the number of plaque forming cells (NPFC) and their viability in a cell culture of murine spleenocytes. As expected, dexamethasone suppressed considerably the NPFC as well as their viability. Surprisingly, DHEA as well as its 7alpha-hydroxylated metabolite decreased significantly the NPFC, while the effect of 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA was different: at low doses it decreased the NPFC, but this effect was less pronounced at higher concentrations. In addition, 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA was able to counteract the effect of dexamethasone on the NPFC. None of the natural steroids affected the cell viability.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Praha, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sterzl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hampl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sterzl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Votruba
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stárka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; C003587:7-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone