title: Gold and modulation of the immune response.
abstract: The effects of gold on immune responses are reviewed. Gold salts used therapeutically can be followed by a decline in serum immunoglobulin levels, and rheumatoid factor titers in rheumatoid arthritis; in pemphigus there is similarly a drop in anti-epithelial antibody titers. Gold inhibits stimulation of immunoglobulin-secreting cells. Gold inhibits the activation of the classical and alternate complement pathways. Gold compounds inhibit numerous cell-mediated immune responses to various mitogens and antigens. Inhibition may be due to the effect of gold on macrophages acting as helper cell in these reactions. Auranofin is a new oral compound which seems to be particularly potent in its immuno-regulatory actions; it differs from other gold compounds in its pharmacokinetics, and in the nature of its ligand. Gold has also been reported to enhance certain immune reactions. The extent of the immuno-regulatory effects of gold in vivo is unknown, and the relation of these effects to its therapeutic actions remains to be clarified.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D006051:Aurothioglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D006046:Gold / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010720:Phosphines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010720:Phosphines; D006051:Aurothioglucose; D006046:Gold; D003165:Complement System Proteins