title: Beta-androstenes and resistance to viral and bacterial infections.
abstract: This report illustrates that the beta-androstenes are indeed able to upregulate the host immune response to a level that enables the host to resist lethal infection by viruses or bacteria. These agents consist of a subgroup of steroids, which also mediates a rapid recovery of hematopoietic precursor cells after whole-body lethal radiation injury. In vivo, the androstenes increase the levels of the Th1 cytokines such as IL-2, IL-3, and IFN. Similar to hydrocortisone, they suppress inflammation, but without immune suppression, and have a role in the maintenance of the Th1/Th2 balance and immune homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology and Emergency Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 1101 E. Marshal Street, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA. loria@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Roger M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Loria
mesh_terms: D015114:Androstenediol / Q000378:metabolism*; D000737:Androstenols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C108492:5-androstene-3,7,17-triol; D000737:Androstenols; C508596:IL3 protein, human; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007377:Interleukin-3; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007372:Interferons; D015114:Androstenediol