Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate on Maturation and Functional Properties of Interferon-α-Induced Dendritic Cells

We studied the effect of adrenal cortex hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on maturation and functional activity of interferon-α-induced dendritic cells. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate stimulated differentiation and maturation of interferon-α-induced dendritic cell, which manifested in a decrease in the number of CD14⁺ cells and increase in the ratio of mature CD83⁺ dendritic cells expressing costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86). The induction of dendritic cell differentiation after treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was accompanied by an increase in the production of interferon-γ. At the stage of dendritic cell maturation, the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate manifested in a 4-fold increase in tumor necrosis factor-α production. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate had little effect on the production of Th2/antiinfl ammatory cytokines at the stages of differentiation and maturation of interferon-α-induced dendritic cells. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate increased the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate Th1 cytokine production by T cells (interferon-γ). This hormone had no effect on the ability of interferon-α-induced dendritic cells to activate CD3⁺IL-4⁺T cells in mixed lymphocyte culture.