Download Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) improves

Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) Improves Immunological
Parameters And Performance Status of Patients with Solid Tumors
Katsuaki Uno*1, Kenichi Kosuna*2, Bxiang Sun*2, Hajimi Fujii*2, Koji Wakame*2, Shizuko
Chikumaru*3, George Hosokawa*4, Yuji Ueda*3
Biotherapy 2000 14(3) 303-309, (Comfort Hospital)
Summary
Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), a member of Phyto-polysaccharide
extract, is known to show Biological Response Modifiers (BRM)- like activity. Because
Interleukin 12 (IL-12), interferon- y (IFN-y) negatively modulate tumor growth we evaluate the
possible effect of AHCC on the production of IL-12 and IFN-y as well as NK cell activity which
also plays a critical role in cancer immunity. 38 patients with solid tumors were given AHCC
orally for 6 months and blood was drawn every 2 months to verify the affects of AHCC on their
immune function. Peripheral, blood lymphocytes (2x105, /200 μ 1) re-suspended in RPMI1640
with 10% FCS were stimulated with 20 μg/ml of Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in microtiter plates
for 24 hours at 37˚C. Supernatant was collected for cytokine assay. IL-12 was measured by the
enzyme linked immuno solvent assay (ELISA) kit (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) and IFN-y
was measured by the ELISA kit (Biosource, Nivelles, Belgium). For the assay of NK cell activity
51Cr-sodium chromate-labeled target cells (K-562; 1x104/l0 μ1) were mixed with effector cells
(1x106/200 μ1) and incubated for 3.5 hours at 37C. Supernatant fluid was collected and
radioactivity was measured. Performance Status (PS) as an indicator of QOL was also evaluated
before and after the intake of AHCC, The basal levels of two cytokines and NIK activity in
patients with tumors were lower than those in normal control. All of three immunological
parameters of patents increased to the normal levels after the intake of the compound. These
results demonstrate that AHCC improves both immunological abnormalities and clinical
conditions.
Keywords: AHCC, Cancer, Interleukin- 12, Interferon-gamma, Natural Killer cell activity, *1:Comfort Medical
Foundation, Immuni-x Xo., Ltd., *2: Amino Up Chemical Co., Ltd., *3: Comfort Hospital, *4: Shonan Kamakura
General Hospital
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