Dehydroepiandrosterone modulates the spontaneous and IL-6 stimulated fibrinogen production of human hepatoma cells.

: The role of an androgen, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been studied on the constitutive and IL-6 induced fibrinogen production of HepG-2 cells. DHEA markedly augments the constitutive fibrinogen production of the hepatoma cells in a dose dependent fashion. Oppositely, for IL-6 induced fibrinogen production, DHEA is strongly inhibitory. The effectiveness of DHEA on the constitutive fibrinogen production is further potentiated if the hepatoma cells are preincubated with a glucocorticosteroid, dexamethasone. These findings demonstrate that the complex interaction between the steroid- and cytokine-directed regulation of the production of acute phase proteins is further coloured by the action of androgens on immune and hormonal systems.