Oxidative stress plays a critical role in aging process, especially immune dysfunction, due to exhaustion of antioxidative molecules. Antioxidant hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and pycnogenol (PYC) were tested to restore immune dysfunction in 16 month old mice and to determine their synergism. T and B cell response to mitogen was partially normalized by combined treatment of DHEA and PYC. It was caused by normalization of Th1/Th2 type cytokine balance. In particular, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 was increased by combined treatment of DHEA and PYC whereas IFN-γ and TNF-α were decreased. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was decreased by combined treatment of DHEA and PYC whereas hepatic vitamin E level was maintained as normal. Our study suggests that combined treatment of DHEA and PYC can more effectively prevent immune dysfunction in old mice than DHEA or PYC treatment alone. (Cancer Prev Res 10, 48-53, 2005)

Keywords: DHEA, Pycnogenol, Aging, Immune dysfunction, Cytokine