title: Effects of active hexose correlated compound on frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing interferon-γ and/or tumor necrosis factor-α in healthy adults.
abstract: Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) is a natural compound with the potential to be used as an immunoenhancer in cases in which the immune system is compromised. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of this compound on the immune function of healthy adults aged 50 years or more. The production of interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells was measured by flow cytometry in peripheral blood obtained from subjects at different time points after AHCC intake. The frequency of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells producing IFN-γ alone, TNF-α alone, or both increased during AHCC intake compared with baseline values. Furthermore, the frequency of such cells remained high even 30 days after discontinuing AHCC. Overall, these findings suggest that AHCC enhances CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell immune responses in healthy elderly persons taking at least 30 days to obtain such effect, which remained up to 30 days after discontinuing treatment with this compound.
authors: Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. zhinan.yin@yale.edu
authors: Zhinan
authors: Z
authors: Yin
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Fujii
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Walshe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C499366:Active Hexose Correlated Compound