title: 2-Carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide, a synthetic organogermanium compound, as an inducer of contrasuppressor T cells.
abstract: 2-Carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132), a synthesized organogermanium compound with immunomodulating activities, was shown to be an inducer of anti-suppressor T cells in normal mice. The suppressor cell activity of T6S cells, a clone of burn-induced CD8+ IL-4-producing suppressor T cells, was clearly inhibited when a mixed lymphocyte-tumor cell reaction of the clone was conducted with splenic mononuclear cells from mice treated orally with a 100 mg/kg dose of Ge-132. The activity of anit-suppressor cells was demonstrated in spleens of mice 2 days after treatment with Ge-132 and reached its peak on day 3. The anti-suppressor cells induced by the compound were of a contrasuppressor T cell-linage, because they were characterized as CD4+ CD28+ TCRalpha/beta+ Vicia villosa lectin-adherent T cells. These cells produced IFN-gamma but did not produce IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 or IL-10 in their culture fluids. CD4+ anti-suppressor T cells induced by Ge-132 may be different from other subsets of CD4+ T cells because Th1 and Th2 cells generated in our laboratory did not adhere to Vicia villosa lectin-coated petri dishes, and each produced specific cytokines. Th1 cells produced IFN-gamma and IL-2 while Th2 cells produce IL-4 and IL-10 in vitro. These results suggest that Ge-132 may be useful as an inducer of contrasuppressor T cells in immunocompromised individuals bearing suppressor T cells. To eliminate suppressor T cells from immunocompromised hosts may result in improved resistance from various opportunistic infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yamaguchi University of Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikemoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimatsu
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Pollard
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005857:Germanium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011422:Propionates; D012016:Reference Values; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007369:Interferon Inducers; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011422:Propionates; D005857:Germanium; C066750:propagermanium