DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE (DHEA) TREATMENT REVERSES THE IMPAIRED IMMUNE-RESPONSE OF OLD MICE TO INFLUENZA VACCINATION AND PROTECTS FROM INFLUENZA INFECTION

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a native steroid with an immunomodula ting activity. Recently it was suggested that its age-associated decli ne is related with immunosenescence To examine whether DHEA administra tion could effectively reverse the age-associated decline of immunity against influenza vaccine, aged mice were simultaneously vaccinated an d treated with DHEA. Reversal of the age-associated decline and a sign ificant constant increase of humoral response was observed in treated mice. Increased resistance to post-vaccination intranasal challenge wi th 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.