-
Biomolecules Nov 2022Androgens are steroids that modulate various processes in the body, ranging from reproduction, metabolism, and even immune response. The main androgens are testosterone,... (Review)
Review
Androgens are steroids that modulate various processes in the body, ranging from reproduction, metabolism, and even immune response. The main androgens are testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These steroids modulate the development and function of immune response cells. Androgens are generally attributed to immunosuppressive effects; however, this is not always the case. Variations in the concentrations of these hormones induce differences in the innate, humoral, and cell-mediated immune response, which is concentration dependent. The androgens at the highest concentration in the organism that bind to the androgen receptor (AR) are DHEA and testosterone. Therefore, in this work, we review the effects of DHEA and testosterone on the immune response. The main findings of this review are that DHEA and testosterone induce similar but also opposite effects on the immune response. Both steroids promote the activation of regulatory T cells, which suppresses the Th17-type response. However, while testosterone suppresses the inflammatory response, DHEA promotes it, and this modulation is important for understanding the involvement of androgens in infectious (bacterial, viral and parasitic) and autoimmune diseases, as well as in the sexual dimorphism that occurs in these diseases.
Topics: Testosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Androgens; Dihydrotestosterone; Adaptive Immunity
PubMed: 36551196
DOI: 10.3390/biom12121768 -
Journal of the Chinese Medical... Aug 2015The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) therapy on improvement of reproduction outcome is uncertain. Many earlier studies have shown conflicting results. Therefore,... (Review)
Review
The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) therapy on improvement of reproduction outcome is uncertain. Many earlier studies have shown conflicting results. Therefore, a review of the literature is needed to explore the role of DHEA in reproduction. We conducted a literature search of MEDLINE (Ovid) and Pub-Med (2000-June 2014) for all relevant articles that included the terms "dehydroepiandrosterone," "DHEA," and "in vitro fertilization." Among the search-identified articles, seven prospective self-controlled studies and four retrospective case-control studies showed DHEA as an adjuvant therapy able to improve in vitro fertilization outcomes in poor responders (women with diminished ovarian reserve and/or poor ovarian response). However, four randomized controlled trials did not support the benefit of DHEA therapy for poor responders. By contrast, one prospective randomized study showed that DHEA might be beneficial to reproduction in women without diminished ovarian reserve (normal responders). In summary, a review of the previously published studies does not provide clear evidence that DHEA can be a useful treatment to improve ovarian function in poor responders.
Topics: Dehydroepiandrosterone; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Ovary; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
PubMed: 25708822
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcma.2014.12.008 -
Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics May 2023Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to the decline in fertility caused by the loss of normal ovarian function. DOR is associated with adverse reactions to ovarian... (Review)
Review
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to the decline in fertility caused by the loss of normal ovarian function. DOR is associated with adverse reactions to ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), increasing cycle cancellation rates and reducing pregnancy rates. Although it is well known that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can be used as a dietary supplement for age-related diseases, its potential has gradually been shown for many diseases. In this review, we focus on the effects of DHEA on DOR, briefly analysing its clinical benefits and limitations and describing the mechanism of function and the clinical trials conducted. Therefore, we summarize the mechanisms and indications of DHEA for DOR.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Ovarian Reserve; Fertilization in Vitro; Pregnancy Rate; Ovary
PubMed: 37019659
DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2022.01109 -
Physiological Research Dec 2022Pulmonary hypertension is a group of disorders characterized by elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance. To test our hypothesis...
Pulmonary hypertension is a group of disorders characterized by elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance. To test our hypothesis that combining two drugs useful in experimental pulmonary hypertension, statins and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA S), is more effective than either agent alone, we induced pulmonary hypertension in adult male rats by exposing them to hypoxia (10%O2) for 3 weeks. We treated them with simvastatin (60 mg/l) and DHEA S (100 mg/l) in drinking water, either alone or in combination. Both simvastatin and DHEA S reduced mPAP (froma mean±s.d. of 34.4±4.4 to 27.6±5.9 and 26.7±4.8 mmHg, respectively), yet their combination was not more effective (26.7±7.9 mmHg). Differences in the degree of oxidative stress (indicated by malondialdehydeplasma concentration),the rate of superoxide production (electron paramagnetic resonance), or blood nitric oxide levels (chemiluminescence) did not explain the lack of additivity of the effect of DHEA S and simvastatin on pulmonary hypertension. We propose that the main mechanism of both drugs on pulmonary hypertension could be their inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, which could explain their lack of additivity.
Topics: Rats; Male; Animals; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Simvastatin; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Pulmonary Artery; Hypoxia; Dehydroepiandrosterone
PubMed: 36426885
DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934913 -
The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and... Jun 2019The androgen precursors, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) are produced in high amounts by the adrenal cortex primarily in humans and a few other...
The androgen precursors, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) are produced in high amounts by the adrenal cortex primarily in humans and a few other primates. The human adrenal also secretes 11-oxygenated androgens (11-oxyandrogens), including 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4), 11-ketoandrostenedione (11KA4), 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT) and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT), of which 11OHT and 11KT are bioactive androgens. The 11-oxyandrogens, particularly 11KT, have been recognized as biologically important testicular androgens in teleost fishes for decades, but their physiological contribution in humans has only recently been established. Beyond fish and humans, however, the presence of 11-oxyandrogens in other species has not been investigated. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of a set of C steroids, including the traditional androgens and 11-oxyandrogens, across 18 animal species. As previously shown, serum DHEA and DHEAS were much higher in primates than all other species. Circulating 11-oxyandrogens, especially 11KT, were observed in notable amounts in male, but not in female trout, consistent with gonadal origin in fish. The circulating concentrations of 11-oxyandrogens ranged from 0.1 to 10 nM in pigs, guinea pigs and in all the primates studied (rhesus macaque, baboon, chimpanzee and human) but not in rats or mice, and 11OHA4 was consistently the most abundant. In contrast to fish, serum 11KT concentrations were similar in male and female primates for each species, despite significantly higher circulating testosterone in males, suggesting that 11KT production in these species is not testis-dependent and primarily originates from adrenal-derived 11-oxyandrogen precursors.
Topics: Androgens; Animals; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Female; Male; Species Specificity; Testosterone
PubMed: 30959151
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.04.005 -
Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira... 2010The evidence suggest that androgen deficiency in women induces sexual dysfunction as its main clinical manifestation, in particular reduced libido. However, other... (Review)
Review
The evidence suggest that androgen deficiency in women induces sexual dysfunction as its main clinical manifestation, in particular reduced libido. However, other factors may be involved in the genesis of this disease, such as interpersonal relationships, social stressors, physical inactivity and the partner. The prevalence of sexual problems among women ranges from 9 to 43% and, recently, many studies have reported that androgens are beneficial not only for women's sexual function, but also for mood disorders and vasomotor symptoms. This is why physicians should include androgen deficiency syndrome in their differential diagnosis, even in women with adequate estrogen levels. Our objective was to present the practical aspects of this disease, emphasizing diagnosis and focusing on treatment. This review searched PUBMED for publications from the last 51 years, up to May 2010, including consensus statements and expert opinions and identified 105 articles. We concluded that the androgen deficiency syndrome in women is overlooked in clinical practice. There is no consensus in the literature regarding diagnosis or treatment, including choice of drug, route of administration and time of application.
Topics: Androgens; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Menopause; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
PubMed: 21152832
DOI: 10.1590/s0104-42302010000500021 -
Actas Espanolas de Psiquiatria Sep 2017Aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are associated with a declination of cognition and memory, whose severity increases in AD. Recent investigations point to a... (Review)
Review
Aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are associated with a declination of cognition and memory, whose severity increases in AD. Recent investigations point to a greater participation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) than that of senile plaques, as responsible for cognitive impairment in AD and normal aging. On the other hand, aging is related with reduced levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) as well as testosterone (T). Basic and clinical studies give evidence that hypoandrogenism is associated with memory impairment. Accordingly, some animal studies show that the administration of these hormones improves the performance of cognitive tasks. However, effects of DHEA, DHEA-S, and T in the clinical setting, are not clear in part because of the balance between the benefits and risks of hormone therapy in aging subjects and because the cellular mechanism underlying its effects on memory in old age and related pathologies are unknown. The objective of this review is to analyze the role of DHEA, DHEA-S, and T, on memory in normal aging and in AD, and to determine whether these hormones modulate the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, a molecular marker in AD pathology. The method used in the review included articles from the PubMed database, using the following search terms: DHEA, DHEA-S, T, memory, androgen deprivation therapy, tau protein, aging, and AD. Finally, we analyze the use of these steroids as an adjunct in the treatment of memory deficits in aging subjects and AD patients.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Alzheimer Disease; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Humans; Memory Disorders; Testosterone
PubMed: 29044447
DOI: No ID Found -
Physiological Research Sep 2017Nearly 60 years has elapsed since the first isolation and identification of 7alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone, and in that time much information has been gained on... (Review)
Review
Nearly 60 years has elapsed since the first isolation and identification of 7alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone, and in that time much information has been gained on its occurrence, metabolism, ontogeny, immunomodulatory activity, cell proliferation, cortisol control in local tissues and neuroactivity. Additional knowledge about this steroid may elucidate its role in obesity, neurodegenerative disturbances such as Alzheimer's disease, or psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or depression. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the available literature on 7alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Obesity
PubMed: 28948812
DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.933717 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood Aug 1982
Topics: Age Factors; Breast; Child; Child, Preschool; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Female; Humans; Infant; Puberty, Precocious
PubMed: 6214219
DOI: 10.1136/adc.57.8.642 -
PloS One 2021The goal of the current study was to create reference intervals and values for several common and one potential novel physiological indicators of animal welfare for four...
The goal of the current study was to create reference intervals and values for several common and one potential novel physiological indicators of animal welfare for four species of cetaceans. The subjects included 189 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 27 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), eight Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and 13 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) at Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities. During two sampling time periods between July and November of 2018 and between January and April of 2019, fecal samples were collected weekly for five weeks from all animals. Samples were processed and analyzed using enzyme immunoassay for fecal cortisol, aldosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolites. Linear mixed models were used to examine demographic and time factors impacting hormone metabolite concentrations. Age, sex, and time of year were all significant predictors for some of the models (p < 0.01). An iOS mobile application ZooPhysioTrak was created for easy access to species-specific reference intervals and values accounting for significant predictors. For facilities without access to this application, additional reference intervals and values were constructed without accounting for significant predictors. Information gained from this study and the use of the application can provide reference intervals and values to make informed management decisions for cetaceans in zoological facilities.
Topics: Age Factors; Aldosterone; Animals; Beluga Whale; Bottle-Nosed Dolphin; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Dolphins; Feces; Female; Hydrocortisone; Male; Reference Values; Seasons; Sex Factors
PubMed: 34460862
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250331