Androstenediol (AED) prevents neuroendocrine-mediated suppression of the immune response to an influenza viral infection

J Neuroimmunol. 1999 Aug 3;98(2):121-9. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(99)00068-5.

Abstract

The goal of these studies was to analyze the ability of androstenediol (AED) to counter-regulate the influences of stress on anti-viral immune responses. Male C57BL/6 mice, treated with 320 mg/kg AED were infected with influenza virus and subjected to repeated cycles of restraint (RST). AED blocked RST-mediated suppression of cell recruitment to the draining lymph node, lung NK cell activity, and CD4 + T cell activation. In addition, mice treated with AED had lower pre-corticosterone levels as compared to vehicle controls and the RST-mediated elevation of corticosterone was significantly blunted by AED treatment. These data suggest that AED functions to augment anti-viral immune responses by counter-regulating glucocorticoid function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anabolic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Androstenediol / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Corticosterone / blood
  • Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / immunology
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / virology
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / immunology
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / virology
  • Kinetics
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Lymphatic Diseases / immunology
  • Lymphatic Diseases / virology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neurosecretory Systems / drug effects*
  • Neurosecretory Systems / immunology*
  • Neurosecretory Systems / virology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / mortality
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / immunology
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / virology
  • Stress, Physiological / immunology
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Anabolic Agents
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Androstenediol
  • Corticosterone