title: Stimulation of Th2 response by high doses of dehydroepiandrosterone in KLH-primed splenocytes.
abstract: Although dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has long been considered as a precursor for steroid hormones, it has also been shown to have regulatory effects in immune homeostasis. We have examined the effect of high DHEA doses on T cell proliferation, differentiation, and cytokine secretion patterns following stimulation with mitogens and soluble antigens. DHEA profoundly inhibited T cell receptor-mediated T cell proliferation in the upstream of IL-2R signaling. Addition of DHEA to KLH-primed splenocytes stimulated Th2 response, indicated by an increase of IL-4 or a decrease of IFN-gamma production in the cultures. Further studies showed that DHEA enhanced IL-4, but inhibited IL-12-mediated T cell proliferation and IL-12 production in antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Our data demonstrated that supraphysiologic levels of DHEA favored Th2 immune responses in vitro by inhibition of IL-12 production from APCs and/or stimulation of Th2 proliferation during the interactions of T cells with APCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37212, USA. caigan.du@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriram
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin