REVERSAL OF AGE-ASSOCIATED DECLINE IN IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO PNU-IMMUNE VACCINE BY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH THE STEROID-HORMONE DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE

Recently, we reported that murine antibody responses to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide (Pnu-Imune) vaccine declined with age. Her e we present data to support the concept that age-associated immune de fects are not only due to intrinsic defects in immune cells but are al so due to extrinsic factors emanating from the neuroendocrine system. We found that supplementation with dehydroepiandrosterone, a steroid h ormone known to be reduced in the aged, corrects the immune deficiency of aged mice and significantly enhanced their splenic immune response s to the Pnu-Imune vaccine.