Dehydroepiandrosterone, an adrenal androgen, increases human foam cell formation: a potentially pro-atherogenic effect.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an abundant adrenal androgen on two key early events of atherogenenis: 1) human monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium, and 2) human foam cell formation.


BACKGROUND
In the U.S., where DHEA is available without prescription, there has recently been a rapid increase in unsupervised self-administration of DHEA. The vascular biologic effects of DHEA are largely unknown, however.


METHODS
Regarding adhesion, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), exposed to either DHEA (42 or 420 nmol/l) or control, were incubated with human monocytes, and adhesion was measured by hemocytometry. Surface expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules was measured by ELISA. Regarding foam cell formation, studies of lipid loading were performed on macrophages treated with DHEA or control and/or the androgen receptor antagonist hydroxyflutamide (HF) (4 micromol/l). Intracellular cholesterol and cholesteryl esters (CE) were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Expression of foam cell formation-related genes was measured by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
DHEA produced a dose-dependent receptor-mediated increase in the male macrophage CE content (up to 120 +/- 4% of control values, p = 0.015). DHEA upregulated messenger ribonucleic acid expression of the lipoprotein-processing enzymes acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase I and lysosomal acid lipase by 3.4- and 5.3-fold, respectively (p < 0.05 vs. control), but had no effect on scavenger receptor expression (p > 0.2). There was no significant effect of DHEA on monocyte-endothelial adhesion (<10% change in values, p = 0.56) or endothelial cell expression of cell adhesion molecules (p > 0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
DHEA increases human macrophage foam cell formation, a potentially pro-atherogenic effect. This effect appears to be mediated via the androgen receptor and involves the upregulation of lipoprotein-processing enzymes.
Ng
Martin K C
MK
Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Nakhla
Shirley
S
Baoutina
Anna
A
Jessup
Wendy
W
Handelsman
David J
DJ
Celermajer
David S
DS
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000032:analysis; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000032:analysis; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D002784:Cholesterol; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D008049:Lipase