title: Immunosuppressive actions of gold salts.
abstract: In rheumatoid arthritis both lymphocyte-mediated and antibody-mediated immune reactions are important for the inflammatory lesions. In vivo activated B lymphocytes/plasma cells, T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages (Mo) are intimately involved in the disease process. Several clinical observations suggest an immunosuppressive action of gold salts. In humans, gold salts interfere with a number of Mo functions in vitro, including cellular interactions between Mo and T lymphocytes. Some workers have shown that the activation of human T lymphocytes is inhibited by gold salts, most probably secondary to an inhibition of Mo-T cell cooperation. Recent experiments indicate that gold salts also affect the in vitro differentiation of human B lymphocytes in response to polyclonal activators. Both the gold atom and the SH group seem to be important for the immunosuppressive actions of gold salts.
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006051:Aurothioglucose / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006046:Gold / Q000276:immunology*; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D006051:Aurothioglucose; D006046:Gold; D010396:Penicillamine