Method of supressing immune responses by reducing intracellular content of glutathione in macrophages and monocytes

Abstract

A method of suppressing immune responses, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising a substance capable of reducing the content of reductive glutathione in macrophages.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of suppressing immune responses, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising a substance capable of reducing the content of reductive glutathione in macrophages.  
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the substance has a intramolecular disulfide bond.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the substance is a cystine derivative.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein the cystine derivative is represented by formula (I):  
                   
       wherein 
 R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group, and  
 R 3  and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an acyl group or a peptidyl group.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 4   , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 4   , wherein R 3  and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an acyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6   , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 4   , wherein R 3  and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an peptidyl group having 1 to 10 amino acid residues.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         10 . The method of suppressing immune responses according to    claim 1   , wherein the substance is capable of selectively removing reductive macrophages which contain an increased amount of intracellular reductive glutathione.  
     
     
         11 . The method of suppressing immune responses according to    claim 10   , wherein said substance is a compound in which a cytotoxic DNA alkylating agent having is conjugated with glutathione, or one which shows a cytotoxicity after being incorporated into macrophages as a precursor.  
     
     
         12 . The method of suppressing immune responses according to    claim 1   , wherein the patient is in a cachectic condition caused by cancers, or suffering from diabetes, gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, hypersensitive interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis or autoimmune inflammatory diseases.  
     
     
         13 . A food, a nutrient or an infusion, containing a cystine derivative represented by formula (I):  
                   
       wherein 
 R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group, and  
 R 3  and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an acyl group or a peptidyl group.  
 
     
     
         14 . The food, nutrient or infusion of    claim 13   , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         15 . The food, nutrient or infusion of    claim 13   , wherein R 3  and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an acyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         16 . The food, nutrient or infusion of    claim 13   , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         17 . The food, nutrient or infusion of    claim 13   , wherein R 3  and R 4 , independently from each other, represent an peptidyl group having 1 to 10 amino acid residues.  
     
     
         18 . The food, nutrient or infusion of    claim 13   , wherein R 1  and R 2 , independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         19 . The food, nutrient or infusion of    claim 13   , which is a food.