[Prophylactic efficacy of a basidiomycetes preparation AHCC against lethal Candida albicans infection in experimental granulocytopenic mice].
The prophylactic effects of a Basidiomycetes preparation, AHCC, against lethal Candida albicans infection were investigated in non treated or immunosuppressed mice. In the cyclophosphamide-or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated leukopenic mice and nontreated mice, the intraperitoneal administration of AHCC prior to C. albicans infection clearly prolonged the survival periods of the infected mice. In doxorubicin-treated mice, AHCC was less but significantly effective. On the other hand, in prednisolone-treated mice, AHCC was not effective. Oral administration of AHCC also protected the 5-FU-treated mice from lethal Candida infection, as indicated by prolongation of the survival periods and inhibition of Candida growth in the kidneys of these mice and by the increase in a number of neutrophils in their peripheral blood. These results suggested that AHCC may display a protective role against opportunistic fungal infection in leukopenic hosts.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan.
Tatsuo
T
Ikeda
Hiroko
H
Ishibashi
Ryuichi
R
Fujisaki
Masatoshi
M
Yamazaki
Kohji
K
Wakame
Kenichi
K
Kosuna
Hideyo
H
Yamaguchi
Yasuo
Y
Ono
Shigeru
S
Abe
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D000818:Animals; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000737:chemistry; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil