Therapeutic effect of Active Hexose-Correlated Compound (AHCC) combined with CpG-ODN (oligodeoxynucleotide) in B16 melanoma murine model.

While Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) are separately known to modulate oxidative stress and immune responses in cancer patients, the combined effect of these two compounds is unknown. To clarify this, we investigated whether AHCC plus KSK-CpG ODN would be therapeutic in B16 melanoma mouse model, if so, and how in reduction-oxidation (redox) balance and cytokines network. We found that treatment groups (AHCC only, KSK-CpG ODN only and AHCC/KSK-CpG ODN) markedly reduced (p<0.001) tumor size when compared to the positive control (PC) group. The total white blood cell (WBC) of AHCC only and KSK-CpG ODN only-treated groups showed significant lower counts than that of PC group. Next, the production of nitric oxide (NO) was significantly increased (p<0.01) in AHCC/KSK-CpG ODN group compared to the PC group. Further, the redox balance was improved in AHCC/KSK-CpG ODN group through significantly low (p<0.001) reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and significantly high (p<0.05) glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity compared to the PC group. Finally, AHCC/KSK-CpG ODN (p<0.01) and KSK-CpG ODN (p<0.001)-treated groups augmented tumor immune surveillance as shown by significantly increased level of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) and significantly decreased (p<0.05) level of pro-tumorigenic IL-6 of AHCC/KSK-CpG ODN treated group as compared to the PC group. Collectively, our study indicates therapeutic effect of Active Hexose-Correlated Compound (AHCC) combined with KSK-CpG ODN in B16 melanoma murine model via balancing redox and cytokines network.