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Luo X, Sun J, Kong D, Lei Y, Gong F, Zhang T, Shen Z, Wang K, Luo H, Xu Y. The role of germanium in diseases: exploring its important biological effects. J Transl Med 2023; 21:795. [PMID: 37940963 PMCID: PMC10634018 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With the development of organic germanium and nanotechnology, germanium serves multiple biological functions, and its potential value in biochemistry and medicine has increasingly captured the attention of researchers. In recent years, germanium has gradually gained significance as a material in the field of biomedicine and shows promising application prospects. However, there has been a limited amount of research conducted on the biological effects and mechanisms of germanium, and a systematic evaluation is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of this review is to systematically examine the application of germanium in the field of biomedicine and contribute new insights for future research on the functions and mechanisms of germanium in disease treatment. By conducting a comprehensive search on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, we systematically reviewed the relevant literature on the relationship between germanium and biomedicine. In this review, we will describe the biological activities of germanium in inflammation, immunity, and antioxidation. Furthermore, we will discuss its role in the treatment of neuroscience and oncology-related conditions. This comprehensive exploration of germanium provides a valuable foundation for the future application of this element in disease intervention, diagnosis, and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Luo
- Yunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650032, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Jiaxue Sun
- Yunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650032, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Deshenyue Kong
- Yunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650032, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Yi Lei
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Fangyou Gong
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Zongwen Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - Kunhua Wang
- Yunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650032, China.
- Yunnan University, Kunming, 650032, China.
| | - Huayou Luo
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China.
| | - Yu Xu
- Yunnan Technological Innovation Centre of Drug Addiction Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650032, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China.
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Menchikov LG, Popov AV. Physiological Activity of Trace Element Germanium including Anticancer Properties. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1535. [PMID: 37371629 PMCID: PMC10295216 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Germanium is an essential microelement, and its deficiency can result in numerous diseases, particularly oncogenic conditions. Consequently, water-soluble germanium compounds, including inorganic and coordination compounds, have attracted significant attention due to their biological activity. The review analyzes the primary research from the last decade related to the anticancer activity of germanium compounds. Furthermore, the review clarifies their actual toxicity, identifies errors and misconceptions that have contributed to the discrediting of their biological activity, and briefly suggests a putative mechanism of germanium-mediated protection from oxidative stress. Finally, the review provides clarifications on the discovery history of water-soluble organic germanium compounds, which was distorted and suppressed for a long time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid G. Menchikov
- N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prosp. 47, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Anatoliy V. Popov
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Anatomy Chemistry Building, Rm 317, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Azumi J, Shimada Y, Takeda T, Aso H, Nakamura T. The Organogermanium Compound 3-(Trihydroxygermyl) Propanoic Acid (THGP) Suppresses Inflammasome Activation Via Complexation with ATP. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13364. [PMID: 36362152 PMCID: PMC9654755 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammasome activity is a key indicator of inflammation. The inflammasome is activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which activate the p38-NF-κB pathway and promote IL-1β transcription (signaling step 1). Next, extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activates the inflammasome (a protein complex consisting of a signal recognition protein, an adapter protein, and Caspase-1) and secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β (signaling step 2). Inflammasome activation causes excessive inflammation, leading to inflammasome-active diseases such as atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes. A hydrolysate of the organogermanium compound Ge-132, 3-(Trihydroxygermyl) propanoic acid (THGP) can form a complex with a cis-diol structure. We investigated the inhibitory effect of THGP on inflammasome activity in human THP-1 monocytes. THGP inhibited IL-1β secretion and caspase-1 activation (signaling step 2) in an ATP-dependent manner. On the other hand, THGP did not suppress IL-1β secretion induced by only lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. In addition, as IL-6 is an ATP-independent inflammatory cytokine, THGP did not decrease its secretion. THGP also suppressed pyroptosis, which is a caspase-1 activity-dependent form of cell death. Therefore, THGP is expected to become a new therapeutic or prophylactic agent for inflammasome-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Azumi
- Asai Germanium Research Institute Co., Ltd. Suzuranoka 3-131, Hakodate 042-0958, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Shimada
- Asai Germanium Research Institute Co., Ltd. Suzuranoka 3-131, Hakodate 042-0958, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tomoya Takeda
- Asai Germanium Research Institute Co., Ltd. Suzuranoka 3-131, Hakodate 042-0958, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hisashi Aso
- Asai Germanium Research Institute Co., Ltd. Suzuranoka 3-131, Hakodate 042-0958, Hokkaido, Japan
- Laboratory of Animal Health Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8572, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Asai Germanium Research Institute Co., Ltd. Suzuranoka 3-131, Hakodate 042-0958, Hokkaido, Japan
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