Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is positively correlated with soluble interleukin 2 receptor and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is linked with soluble immune mediators in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS: DHEAS and various soluble immune mediators were measured by ELISA in the serum of 35 patients with SLE (26 women, 9 men) and in 41 control subjects.
RESULTS: DHEAS was lower in patients with SLE compared to controls (male 1.29 +/- 0.32 vs 3.04 +/- 0.33 micrograms/ml, p < 0.001; female 0.75 +/- 0.12 vs 2.16 +/- 0.18 micrograms/ml, p < 0.001). The DHEAS reduction was in part dependent on prior glucocorticosteroid treatment (p < 0.02). After adjustment for multiple comparisons, there was significant negative correlation between steroid dose and DHEAS (RRank = -0.426, p = 0.005), but with none of the soluble immune mediators. No significant difference in the percentage of steroid treated male and female patients was found (p = 0.220). However, there was positive correlation between DHEAS and soluble interleukin 2 receptor in women, but not in men, with SLE [RRank = 0.747 (n = 26, p < 0.0001) vs RRank = -0.1333( n = 9, p = 0.366)] and between DHEAS and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule in women, but not in men, with SLE [RRank = 0.509 (n = 26, p = 0.005) vs RRank = 0.4833 (n = 9, p = 0.094)].
CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate positive interrelation between DHEAS and soluble immune mediators involved in leukocyte function and leukocyte adhesion only in female patients with SLE.