Reduction in the incidence and severity of collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice, using exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of exogenous dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the onset, incidence, and severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
METHODS: DHEA was administered subcutaneously prior to arthritis induction in DBA/1 mice, and the severity of the subsequent arthritis was monitored. Serum levels of total IgG and IgG isotype-specific anti-murine type II collagen were measured.
RESULTS: Repeated administration of DHEA during arthritis induction delayed the onset and decreased the severity of arthritis in male and female DBA/1 mice. DHEA failed to have an observable effect on established arthritis. IgG isotype autoantibody levels were found to be decreased in the sera of DHEA-treated mice.
CONCLUSION: Administration of exogenous DHEA offered protection against the development of CIA. These data support the results of human studies in which low DHEA levels have been identified as a potential risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis. These findings also highlight DHEA as a potential therapy worthy of further investigation.