Aurocyanide, dicyano-aurate (I), a pharmacologically active metabolite of medicinal gold complexes.
The aurocyanide anion, Au(CN) (2) (-) , is a human metabolite of several anti-rheumatic gold complexes containing monovalent gold (I) bound to a sulphur ligand. This article reviews some of the chemical and pharmacological properties of this intriguing metabolite, and reports its anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity in rats. Au(CN) (2) (-) is generated from the therapeutic gold complexes by small amounts of hydrogen cyanide, HCN, produced from thiocyanate, SCN(-), by myeloperoxidase (MPO) an enzyme in neutrophils which normally produces hypochlorite, OCl(-). Thus, Au(CN) (2) (-) is formed at sites of inflammation where activated neutrophils are present. This includes atherosclerotic lesions as well as inflamed joints. MPO also oxidises Au(CN) (2) (-) to Au(III) complexes such as Au(CN) (4) (-) .Au(CN) (2) (-) is normally a very stable monovalent gold complex. In a biological context, only low concentrations are ever present at both extracellular and intracellular sites. However, Au(CN) (2) (-) produced locally may facilitate the cellular uptake and hence the therapeutic and toxic effects of gold drugs. Au(CN) (2) (-) may also be involved in a redox cycle where Au(CN) (2) (-) is oxidised to Au(CN) (4) (-) which is, in turn, reduced back to Au(CN) (2) (-) by endogenous thiols. There are still many questions to be resolved concerning Au(CN) (2) (-) including its intrinsic toxicity and the extent to which it may contribute to the overall anti-arthritic activities of the gold-thiolates from which it is formed in vivo.
School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia. g.graham@unsw.edu.au
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Graham
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Whitehouse
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Bushell
D000818:Animals; D003485:Cyanates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003485:Cyanates; C043041:gold cyanide; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D006046:Gold