Protection against concanavalin A-induced murine liver injury by the organic germanium compound, propagermanium

Abstract

Propagermanium (3-oxygermylpropionic acid polymer) is an organic germanium compound that activates the immune system. In this study, we investigated the action of propagermanium on T-cell-mediated murine hepatic injury induced by concanavalin A (Con A). Oral administration of propagermanium inhibited the development of liver injury about 10 h after Con A injection. Histological analysis demonstrated that propagermanium attenuated the extent of liver damage compared with controls, reducing infiltration by leucocytes, especially CD11b-positive cells. Infiltration by CD4-positive cells was not affected. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ, are crucial for the development of hepatitis in this model. Propagennanium treatment induced significant inhibition of subsequent TNF-α production about 10 h after Con A injection, without affecting IFN-γ interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4 and IL-12 production. This effect on TNF-production coincided with the inhibition of aminotransferase activity late in the progression of Con A-induced liver injury. These facts suggest that this compound affects the macrophages (Mφ) function in the liver sinusoid. Therefore, Mφ were cultured with liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) and the effect of propagermanium on TNF-α production in the presence of IFN- γ was determined. TNF-α production was reduced significantly in the coculture of Mφ and SEC when Mφ was treated with propagermanium. These results might explain the mechanisms by which propagermanium inhibits Con-A- induced liver injury. That is, propagermanium improves hepatitis through mechanisms including the reduced production of TNF-α, without modification of Th1- and Th2-cell function.