Inhibition of autoimmune disease and the generation of suppressor cells by spirogermanium: a biological profile similar to total lymphoid irradiation.

Oral administration of spirogermanium (Sg), inhibits the development of immune-mediated hindpaw inflammation in the rat model of adjuvant arthritis (AA) and DTH responses to PPD (30 mg/kg/day). A similar dosing protocol inhibits hindleg paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The spleens of these animals and those of normal rats contain radiation resistant (2000 R) non-specific suppressor cells (SC) which bear some similarity to those generated following total lymphoid irradiation (TLI). These cells do not appear to be mature T cells, they are partially adherent to plastic, sephadex G10 and nylon wool, insensitive to indomethacin and are enriched in a 1.07 g/ml fraction of a Percoll density gradient.