Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment reverses the impaired immune response of old mice to influenza vaccination and protects from influenza infection

Vaccine. 1995;13(15):1445-8. doi: 10.1016/0264-410x(95)00063-7.

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a native steroid with an immunomodulating activity. Recently it was suggested that its age-associated decline is related with immunosenescence. To examine whether DHEA administration could effectively reverse the age-associated decline of immunity against influenza vaccine, aged mice were simultaneously vaccinated and treated with DHEA. Reversal of the age-associated decline and a significant constant increase of humoral response was observed in treated mice. Increased resistance to post-vaccination intranasal challenge with live influenza virus was observed in DHEA-treated aged mice. Thus, DHEA treatment overcame the age-related defect in the immunity of old mice against influenza.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Aging / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Antibodies, Viral / drug effects
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / immunology*
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / physiopathology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone