Dehydroepiandrosterone, ageing and immune activation.
Exp Gerontol
; 36(10): 1739-47, 2001 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11672993
The age-related decline in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) production is currently attracting attention because of its possible relevance to the etiology and management of a number of age-related clinical disorders. Various abnormalities of immune system function have been described in the elderly. Among them, increased concentrations of neopterin have been reported, which is produced by human monocytes/macrophages upon stimulation by interferon-gamma. In order to examine the relation of serum DHEA to serum neopterin, we studied 281 otherwise healthy outpatients, who visited the physician's office for a medical health check-up. 10% presented with increased neopterin concentrations, 0.4% had increased DHEA sulfate (DHEAs) concentrations. DHEAs concentrations were significantly higher in patients with lower neopterin concentrations (Mann-Whitney test: U=4793, P<0.0001). There existed a rather strong inverse correlation between DHEAs concentrations and serum neopterin concentrations (Spearman's rank correlation: r(s)=-0.221, P<0.0001). The data support the concept that the decrease of DHEA with increasing age is related to immune system activation. Oxidative stress which accompanies immune response may diminish DHEA synthesis.
Buscar en Google
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Envejecimiento
/
Deshidroepiandrosterona
/
Sistema Inmunológico
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Exp Gerontol
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Austria
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido