germanium and Arthritis

Germanium is present in all living plant and animal matter in micro-trace quantities. Its therapeutic attributes include immuno-enhancement, oxygen enrichment, free radical scavenging, analgesia and heavy metal detoxification. Toxicological studies document Germanium's rapid absorption and elimination from the body, and its safety. Clinical trials and use in private practices for more than a decade have demonstrated Germanium's efficacy in treating a wide range of serious afflictions, including cancer, arthritis and senile osteoporosis. Germanium's anti-viral and immunological properties, including the induction of interferon, macrophages, T-suppressor cells and augmentation of natural killer cell activity, suggest its possible efficacy in treating and/or preventing AIDS.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Arthritis; Clinical Trials as Topic; Female; Germanium; Humans; Leukemia, Experimental; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Malaria; Organometallic Compounds; Osteoporosis; Ovarian Neoplasms; Spiro Compounds

Spirogermanium is a novel metal containing azaspirane compound with reported antitumor activity. The results of the present investigation demonstrate that spirogermanium also exhibits antiarthritic and immunoregulatory activities after p.o. administration to rats. Spirogermanium decreased hindleg inflammatory lesions of adjuvant arthritic rats when administered p.o. before or after the development of the arthritic lesions. After termination of spirogermanium administration, the adjuvant-injected hindleg lesions remained significantly suppressed for at least 2 weeks postdrug treatment; whereas, the uninjected, immune-mediated hindleg inflammation tended to increase postdrug treatment. In multiparameter ex vivo studies, untreated arthritic rats exhibited enhanced cyanine dye fluorescence in peripheral blood monocytes, enhanced interleukin (IL)-1 production by adherent spleen cells and depressed IL-2 and IL-3 production by splenic lymphocytes. Spirogermanium normalized these changes to various degrees, with the exception of the depressed IL-2 and IL-3 production. Spirogermanium administered to normal nonarthritic rats decreased mitogenic responses of spleen cells to Concanavalin A which was found to be caused, at least in part, by enhanced suppressor cell activity. The antiarthritic and immunoregulatory profile of spirogermanium appeared to be different from the profiles of the antiarthritic agents, auranofin and indomethacin.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Arthritis; Arthritis, Experimental; Auranofin; Aurothioglucose; Concanavalin A; Fluorescence; Germanium; Immunosuppressive Agents; Indomethacin; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-2; Macrophages; Male; Monocytes; Organometallic Compounds; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Spiro Compounds; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory