Suppressive effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on the development of asthmatic reaction in BALB/c mice / 천식및알레르기

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal androgen, may regulate Th1/Th2 cytokines. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether DHEA have a preventive effect against the development of asthma, a Th2-associated disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were fed with a standard diet incorporated with 0.1% (w/w) of DHEA for 1 week before sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA, 20 microgram i.p. twice with 2-week intervals). Enhanced pause (Penh) was monitored after 1% OVA inhalations for 3 successive days, and then the methacholine bronchoprovocation tests were performed using a whole-body plethysmography system. Analyses of inflammatory cells, cytokines, and OVA-specific IgE were carried out. RESULTS: Both the excessive airway narrowing (maximum Penh) and the airway hypersensitivity (PC200, mg/mL) to methacholine were significantly suppressed with the DHEA pretreatment (P<.05 and P<.01, respectively). However, the numbers of the inflammatory cells and the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the production of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma by Con A-stimulated splenocytes, and the serum IgE level in DHEA group were not significantly different from those in asthma group. CONCLUSION: DHEA pretreatment could suppress the development of asthmatic airway hyperresponsiveness without suppression of Th2 cytokines and airway inflammation.