CYTOKINE DYSREGULATION AND INCREASED OXIDATION IS PREVENTED BY DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE IN MICE INFECTED WITH MURINE LEUKEMIA RETROVIRUS

The effects of murine leukemia retrovirus infection on production of c ytokines was investigated in mice fed different doses of dehydroepland rosterone (DHEA). Young C57BL/6 female mice were injected with LP-BM5 murine retrovirus or were kept as uninfected controls, Two weeks later , each group was divided into subgroups: fed unsupplemented AIN 93 die t as the control, or diets supplemented with 0.02% DHEA (0.9 mg/mouse/ day) or 0.06% DHEA (2.7 mg/mouse/day). The uninfected mice supplemente d with 0.06% DHEA showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase In interleu kin-2 (IL-2) and gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) production, and hepatic vitamin E levels, Retroviral infection Induced severe oxidative stress that was reduced by DHEAS supplementation in retrovirally infected mi ce. DHEA supplementation prevented the retrovirus-induced loss of cyto kines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) secretion by mitogen stimulated spleen cell s, DHEA also suppressed the production of cytokines interleukin-6 (IL- 6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by T helper 2 (Th2) cel ls which were otherwise stimulated by retrovirus infection. Thus, immu ne dysfunction and increased oxidation induced by murine retrovirus in fection were largely prevented by DHEA.