[Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on cellular immune response in experimental autoimmune neuritis in Lewis rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on cellular immune response in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN).


METHODS
21 female Lewis rats were randomly divided into DHEA 0.5 mg treatment groups, 2 mg treatment groups and control group ( n=7). Treatment groups were subcutaneously injected every day with DHEA and the control group with the same level of DHEA dissolvent from day 5 post immunization (p.i) with bovine peripheral myelin (BPM) in Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA). The effects were assessed in terms of of the number of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha positive cells in sciatic nerve sections, T-cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-10) synthesis by draining lymph node and spleen cells at the height of clinical EAN.


RESULTS
Rats treated with DHEA at different doses displayed significant decreases in numbers of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha expressing cells in the PNS (P<0.05), BPM-stimulated T cell proliferation (P<0.05), IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha secretion in draining lymph node and spleen (P<0.05) compared to control group. No significant difference of supernatant IL-10 was found among the different groups (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Administration with exogenous DHEA inhabits cellular immune response by suppressing the proliferation of autoreactive T-cell and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Lewis rats with EAN.
Tan
Xiao-dong
XD
Department of Pediatrics, Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China. txdjinan@yahoo.com.cn
Duan
Rui-sheng
RS
Shi
Chang-wen
CW
Qu
Xun
X
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009444:Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007371:Interferon-gamma