Oral dehydroepiandrosterone in physiologic doses modulates immune function in postmenopausal women

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Postmenopausal women often experience relative adrenal androgen deficiency.
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an important adrenal androgen with potential immunomodulatory roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that DHEA or its metabolites are immunomodulatory in postmenopausal women with relative adrenal androgen deficiency.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, randomized, double-blind, crossover study with 11 subjects.
• 3-week treatment arms with a 2-week washout period.
• Immunologic evaluations included flow cytometry, T-cell response assays, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• DHEA supplementation decreased CD4+ (helper) T cells and increased CD8+/CD56+ (natural killer) cells.
• T-cell mitogenic and IL-6 responses were inhibited.
• Natural killer cell cytotoxicity significantly increased.

Conclusions:

• First in vivo human evidence for DHEA's immunomodulatory effects.
• Observed immune changes may explain DHEA's antioncogenic effects.
• Supports further clinical studies of DHEA in adrenal androgen deficiency.