7-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone - a natural antiglucocorticoid and a candidate for steroid replacement therapy

7-Hydroxylated metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are believed to be responsible for at least some immunomodulatory and antiglucocorticoid e ffects of DHEA and hence are considered candidates for hormone replacement therapy. Out experiments ill vitro brought the evidence that 3 beta, 7 beta -dihydroxy-5-androsten-3-one (7 beta-OH-DHEA), but not DHEA and its 7 alpha -hydroxyisomer, could counteract the immunosuppressive effect of dexamethas one on the formation of plaques in culture of murine spleen lymphocytes. In another experiment, DHEA acid after a 3-weeks pause 3 beta-hydroxy-5-andro stene-7,17-dione (7-oxo-DHEA) were applied transdermally to 6 male voluntee rs on 5 consecutive days. Blood levels of DHEA, its 7-hydroxylated metaboli tes, and in the first case also dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), we re measured before, during and one day after the end of treatment. Applicat ion of DHEA increased significantly not only DHEA and DHEAS, but also its b oth 7-hydroxyisomers. Application of 7-oxo-DHEA also led to a significant i ncrease of both 7-hydroxyisomers of DHEA, with 7 beta-OH-DHEA being the pre ferred metabolite the concentration of which was increased more than three times.