Safety and effect of an extract from Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) on NK cell numbers in HIV individuals not taking antiretroviral therapy.

1
Safety and effect of an extract from Ganoderma
lucidum (Reishi) on NK cell numbers in HIV
individuals not taking antiretroviral therapy.
JT Leonard1, I Majd1, JP Kassermann1, CA
Wenner1 1Bastyr University, Kenmore WA
PURPOSE Immune therapies aimed at stimulating the
anti-viral immune response, such as IL-2 and
IL-12 therapy, also have resulted in stimulation
of viral replication, resulting in higher viral
load in the serum despite sometimes improved CD4
counts. In addition, previous studies with these
immunomodulating substances in HIV patients have
shown that they carry significant side effect
profiles. The aim of this study was to determine
if a natural immunomodulating substance,
Ganoderma lucidum, would be well-tolerated in
HIV subjects not taking anti-retroviral therapy.

• RESULTS
• Reishi was well-tolerated with no serious adverse
  events reported and no grade 3 or 4 laboratory
  adverse events from the study medication. Mild
  GI side effects were experienced by two subjects
  and were self-limiting.
• No significant trends in laboratory chemistries,
  CD4, or log viral load were noted.
• There was a significant increase in the
  percentage of CD16 NK cells, which peaked at 5
  grams/day and returned to baseline during the
  washout phase. (figure 1)
• Two subjects experienced significant decreases
  in viral load at 5 grams/day, while three other
  subjects trended toward higher CD4 while on
  Reishi.
• (figures 2 and 3)

Photograph of Ganoderma lucidum, aka Reishi
mushroom

Figure 1 Effect of 1 month daily Rieshi
treatment (5 gm) on percent CD16CD3- cells in
blood of HIV volunteers
BACKGROUND Reishi is an immunomodulatory
botanical used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Triterpenes from Reishi have shown activity
against HIV-1 protease in vitro, and Reishi has
been shown to increase total lymphocytes, CD4
cells, NK cell counts and activity in cancer
patients taking Reishi orally. This study
investigated the safety of oral Reishi
supplementation in HIV individuals and followed
trends in HIV viral load and lymphocyte subset
counts.

Figure 2 Effect of increasing Reishi doses on
HIV viral loads of study volunteers
CONCLUSIONS Reishi supplementation is safe and
well-tolerated in HIV individuals not taking
antiretroviral therapy. Further studies are
warranted to determine which subset of NK cells
are increased and whether this increase confers
any advantage either in terms of delaying time to
initiating antiretroviral therapy in treatment
naïve individuals or in restoring NK cell
populations in patients under antiretroviral
treatment.
METHODS 10 HIV individuals with CD4 cell counts
gt200 cells/µl and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels lt50,000
not currently taking antiretroviral medications
were enrolled in this 4-month dose escalation
study. After a baseline blood draw, subjects
were given the following daily Reishi doses for
one month each sequentially 2 grams, 5 grams,
and 10 grams. Plasma chemistries, HIV-1 RNA
levels, CD4/CD8, NK cell counts and adverse event
questionnaires were performed after each dosing
month, and at a one-month washout.
Figure 3 Effect of increasing Reishi doses on
percent CD4 T cells in blood of study volunteers
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank John
Seleen of JHS Naturals, Inc. for donating the
Reishi capsules used in this study.
FUNDING SUPPORT PROVIDED BY NIH NATIONAL CENTER
FOR COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE