New Insights on How the Organogermanium Compound 3-Trihydroxygermyl Propanoic Acid (THGP) Helps Reduce Inflammation
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 10, 2025 5 hours, 41 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists Discover How THGP Works to Fight Inflammation
A group of researchers has uncovered how a compound called THGP (3-(trihydroxygermyl)propanoic acid) can help reduce inflammation in the body. The study was conducted by scientists from Asai Germanium Research Institute, Hokkaido-Japan and Tohoku University-Japan and sheds light on the mechanisms that make THGP an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Their findings may contribute to new treatments for various inflammatory conditions.
How the Organogermanium Compound 3-Trihydroxygermyl Propanoic Acid (THGP) Helps Reduce Inflammation
Schematic diagram of the mechanism of action of THGP against LPS-induced inflammation. THGP inhibits adenosine degradation by adenosine deaminase (ADA), leading to increased adenosine levels. Adenosine signaling activates NR4A2, which inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation. Consequently, THGP suppresses IL-6 and TNF-α expression and IL-1β secretion. The blue arrows indicate a decrease due to THGP, while the red arrows indicate an increase due to THGP.
The Key Role of Adenosine in Inflammation Reduction
This
Medical News report explains that THGP works by interacting with a molecule called adenosine, which plays a crucial role in inflammation regulation. The study found that THGP forms a complex with adenosine, preventing its breakdown. This leads to higher levels of adenosine in the body, which in turn reduces the production of inflammatory proteins such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. These proteins are often linked to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, and other inflammatory diseases.
THGP and the NF-κB Signaling Pathway
One of the main ways inflammation occurs in the body is through the activation of a pathway known as NF-κB. When triggered, this pathway leads to the production of inflammatory substances that can worsen disease conditions. The researchers discovered that THGP helps block this pathway by preventing the movement of NF-κB into the nucleus of cells. By doing so, it stops the process that leads to excessive inflammation.
How THGP Affects Immune Cells
In the study, scientists examined how THGP interacts with immune cells called macrophages. These cells play a major role in inflammation by either increasing or decreasing the body’s immune response. The researchers found that THGP helps regulate macrophages, allowing them to suppress excessive inflammation when needed. Interestingly, past research has shown that THGP can also activate immune cells under normal conditions, meaning it has a balancing effect on the immune system.
Testing the Effects of THGP
To understand how effective THGP is, the researchers conducted several experiments on lab-grown human immune cells. They treated these cells with THGP and measured how much inflammation-related proteins were produced. The results
were clear - cells treated with THGP had significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers compared to untreated cells. The scientists also tested what happens when they blocked the effects of adenosine, and they found that the anti-inflammatory benefits of THGP were reduced. This confirms that THGP’s ability to maintain adenosine levels is crucial to its effectiveness.
THGP as a Potential Treatment for Inflammatory Diseases
Given the strong evidence of its anti-inflammatory effects, THGP may be useful in developing new treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and even some forms of cancer have been linked to excessive inflammation. The ability of THGP to both suppress and balance immune responses makes it a promising candidate for future drug development.
Conclusion
This study provides strong evidence that THGP is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent due to its ability to form a complex with adenosine, preventing its breakdown and thereby reducing the activation of the NF-κB pathway. By lowering the production of inflammatory molecules and regulating immune cells, THGP has the potential to be developed into an effective treatment for chronic inflammatory conditions. More research, including human clinical trials, will be needed to confirm these findings and explore possible applications in medicine.
Scientists hope that this discovery could lead to new anti-inflammatory drugs that help millions of people worldwide who suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/6/2449
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