Dehydroepiandrosterone and multiple measures of functional immunity in young adults

Prall, Sean P.; Muehlenbein, Michael P.

doi:10.1002/ajhb.22724

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Similar to our findings on A 4 in meerkats, other androgens besides T have been shown to be relevant in other species: For instance, the androgen precursor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has immunomodulating effects in orangutans ( Pongo pygmaeus morio [90]) and in humans ( Homo sapiens [91]). In some teleost species, such as the three-spined stickleback ( Gasterosteus aculeatus ), the dominant circulating androgen is not T, but 11-ketotestosterone (11-kT) and, in males, concentrations of 11-kT (but not T) correlate positively with ornamentation and negatively with immunocompetence [92].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Social and endocrine correlates of immune function in meerkats: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis

et al. 2018

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Social status can mediate effects on the immune system, with profound consequences for individual health; nevertheless, most investigators of status-related disparities in free-ranging animals have used faecal parasite burdens to proxy immune function in the males of male-dominant species. We instead use direct measures of innate immune function (complement and natural antibodies) to examine status-related immunocompetence in both sexes of a female-dominant species. The meerkat is a unique model for such a study because it is a cooperatively breeding species in which status-related differences are extreme, evident in reproductive skew, morphology, behaviour, communication and physiology, including that dominant females naturally express the greatest total androgen (androstenedione plus testosterone) concentrations. We found that, relative to subordinates, dominant animals had reduced serum bacteria-killing abilities; also, relative to subordinate females, dominant females had reduced haemolytic complement activities. Irrespective of an individual's sex or social status, androstenedione concentrations (but not body condition, age or reproductive activity) negatively predicted concurrent immunocompetence. Thus, dominant meerkats of both sexes are immunocompromised. Moreover, in female meerkats, androstenedione perhaps acting directly or via local conversion, may exert a double-edged effect of promoting dominance and reproductive success at the cost of increased parasitism and reduced immune function. Given the prominent signalling of dominance in female meerkats, these findings may relate to the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH); however, our data would suggest that the endocrine mechanism underlying the ICHH need not be mediated solely by testosterone and might explain trade-offs in females, as well as in males.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Social and endocrine correlates of immune function in meerkats: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis

et al. 2018

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“…Additionally, DHEA‐S concentrations are inversely related to severity of malaria and Schistosoma infections in humans (Kurtis et al, ; Leenstra et al, ). A positive association is also found between markers of innate immunity and DHEA in wild orangutans, with similar results in humans (Prall & Muehlenbein, ; Prall et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…DHEA‐S is not known to have direct effects on immunity, but is thought to mediate its activity via conversion of other androgens and estrogens. Previous research indicates that elevated DHEA‐S is related to a decrease of some immune parameters (Prall & Muehlenbein, ; Prall et al, ) and increase in others (Hodges‐Simeon, et al, in review). Elevated DHEA‐S may signal either increased enzymatic expression of hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, which converts DHEA to DHEA‐S, or reduced expression of steroid sulfatase, reflecting a reduction in available DHEA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The role of dehydroepiandrosterone on functional innate immune responses to acute stress

2017

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The androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) responds to stress activation, exhibits anti-glucocorticoid properties, and modulates immunity in diverse ways, yet little is known of its role in acute stress responses. In this study, the effects of DHEA and its sulfate ester DHEA-S on human male immune function during exposure to an acute stressor is explored. Variation in DHEA, DHEA-S, testosterone, and cortisol, along with bacterial killing assays, was measured in response to a modified Trier Social Stress test in 27 young adult males. Cortisol was positively related to salivary innate immunity but only for participants who also exhibited high DHEA responses. Additionally, DHEA positively and DHEA-S negatively predicted salivary immunity, but the opposite was observed for serum-based innate immunity. The DHEA response to acute stress appears to be an important factor in stress-mediated immunological responses, with differential effects on immunity dependent upon the presence of other hormones, primarily cortisol and DHEA-S. These results suggest that DHEA plays an important role, alongside other hormones, in modulating immunological shifts during acute stress.

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“…These assays assess innate immune responses only. While a comprehensive assessment of immunocompetence would require examination of the adaptive immune response as well, these functional assays are arguably more relevant than simple measures of inflammation (e.g., C‐reactive protein or sIgA), and meaningful results have previously been reported in humans and nonhuman primates (Georgiev, Muehlenbein, Prall, Emery Thompson, & Maestripieri, 2015; Prall & Muehlenbein, 2014; Prall & Muehlenbein, 2015; Prall et al, 2015). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short‐term resource allocation during extensive athletic competition

Longman

Prall

Shattuck

et al. 2017

American J Hum Biol

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ObjectivesFollowing predictions from life history theory, we sought to identify acute trade‐offs between reproductive effort (as measured by psychological arousal) and somatic maintenance (via functional measures of innate immunity) during conditions of severe energetic imbalance.MethodsSixty‐six male ultramarathon runners (ages 20 to 37 years) were sampled before and after a lengthy race. Saliva and sera were collected for testosterone and immunological analyses (hemolytic complement activity and bacterial killing ability). Lean body mass was assessed by bioelectrical impedance, and libido was measured using a slideshow of arousing and neutral images.ResultsFollowing predictions, there was a significant decrease in salivary testosterone levels (109.59 pg/mL versus 97.61 pg/mL, P < .001) and arousal scores in response to provocative images (5.40 versus 4.89, P = .001) between prerace and postrace time points. Additionally, participant bacterial killing ability (P = .035) and hemolytic complement activity (P = .021) increased between prerace and postrace.ConclusionsDecreased libido and testosterone with concomitant heightened innate immune responses suggest a shift in energetic priorities away from reproduction and toward maintenance/defense during a period of energetic stress.

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Dehydroepiandrosterone and multiple measures of functional immunity in young adults

Cited by 14 publications

References 17 publications

Social and endocrine correlates of immune function in meerkats: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis

Social and endocrine correlates of immune function in meerkats: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis

The role of dehydroepiandrosterone on functional innate immune responses to acute stress

Short‐term resource allocation during extensive athletic competition

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