Dehydroepiandrosterone

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone. It is the most abundant circulating steroid hormone in humans, produced in the adrenal glands, gonads and the brain, where it functions as an intermediate in the synthesis of androgen and estrogen sex steroids.

In mice, DHEA is protective against a variety of infections including Coxsackie B4, herpes simplex virus type 2.