Alterations in macrophage collagenase secretion induced by gold sodium thiomalate

✍ Scribed by David M. Spalding; Walter L. Darby II; Louis W. Heck

• Book ID: 102753832
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 758 KB
• Volume: 29
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780290110

✦ Synopsis

The effects of gold sodium thiomalate (GST) on the production of specific collagenase by thioglycolateelicited macrophages was investigated. Our studies demonstrated that GST administration can significantly decrease collagenase production in a dose-dependent manner. These effects were observed with levels of GST attainable in serum or synovial tissue during routine chrysotherapy. In addition, GST altered lysozyme secretion by activated macrophages in a pattern distinct from that of collagenase alteration. These effects of enzyme secretion were not secondary effects of GST on viability, general protein secretion, or the specific assay procedures utilized, and were not attributable to the thiomalate moiety. Thus, GST may exert its therapeutic effect in rheumatoid arthritis through interference with the production of degradative proteolytic enzymes, which are important effector molecules mediating tissue destruction.

In 1934, Forestier presented a report which summarized the favorable results he found after 6 years of treating more than 550 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with gold salts (1). Since that time, chrysotherapy has been recognized as an important From the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheuma-