Inhibitory effect of (4R)-hexahydro-7,7-dimethyl-6-oxo-1,2,5-dithiazocine-4-carboxylic acid (SA3443), a novel cyclic disulfide, on the production of TNF-like factor from Propionibacterium acnes-primed rat liver macrophages/Kupffer cells.

The effect of (4R)-hexahydro-7,7-dimethyl-6-oxo-1,2,5-dithiazocine-4-carboxylic acid (SA3443), a novel cyclic disulfide, on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like factor production from Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes)-primed rat liver macrophages/Kupffer cells was investigated. A remarkable increase in TNF-like activity was detected in the culture supernatants of the liver macrophages/Kupffer cells from P. acnes-treated rats. At concentrations of 1 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-4) M, SA3443 significantly inhibited the production/release of TNF-like factor from these P. acnes-primed/activated liver macrophages/Kupffer cells.