Abstract :
Cellular immunity plays an important role in the protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The AHCC supplementation concomitant with anti-tuberculosis drugs is expected to increase the levels of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes as protective lymphocytes. This study aims to evaluate levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells before and after AHCC supplementation. The study design was a double-blind randomized clinical trial, in which AHCC and placebo were administered for 3 months. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lymphocytes were collected at baseline and third month after AHCC and placebo administration. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lymphocytes statistically. Sixty subjects (30 AHCC group and 30 placebo group) showed the CD4+ and the CD8+ levels after AHCC supplementation were better than placebo. Absolute CD4+ cell levels AHCC vs placebo were mean±se, baseline (519±39.4 vs 473±47.5 cells/µl, p=0.506) and after 3 months (695±52.1 vs. 637.5±50.4 cells/µl, p=0.574). Absolute CD8+ cell levels in the AHCC group vs placebo were baseline (488.8±46.9 vs 367.5±39.8 cells/µl, p=0.071) and after the 3rd month (628.7±101.9 vs 480,2±42.2; p=0.501 cells/µl). Percentage of CD4+ cells in AHCC group Vs placebo group, baseline (35±1.8 vs 32.5±1.6; p=0.391), and after 3 months (36.1±1.8 vs 34.7± 1.8; p=0.701). While the percentage of CD8+ cells in the AHCC vs placebo was baseline (30.3±1.7 vs 25.2±1.4; p=0.044), and after the 3rd month (28.8±1.8 vs. 25.3 ±1.3; p=0.144). This study cocluded that increased levels of CD4+ and CD8+ cells after AHCC administration was better than placebo in TB patients.
