Effect of two gold compounds on lysosomes

Effect of gold compounds on the activity of adenylyl cyclase in human lymphocyte membranes

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of aurothioglucose, aurothiomalate, and auranofin on basal and forskolin-activated adenylyl cyclase activity in human total lymphocyte membranes, and in membranes of T and B lymphocyte subsets.

METHODS

Membranes were isolated from human total lymphocytes and T and B cell subsets. The effects of gold compounds on basal and forskolin-stimulated activity of adenylyl cyclase were measured by radioassay.

RESULTS

The gold compounds inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity. This inhibitory effect required the presence of both the sulfhydryl ligands and aurous cation.

CONCLUSION

Regulation of lymphocyte adenylyl cyclase by gold compounds represents a potential mode of action of these drugs in rheumatic diseases.

Autometallographic detection of gold in dorsal root ganglia of rats treated with sodium aurothiomalate

Ultraviolet light autometallography, a very sensitive method for gold detection, was applied to sections of dorsal root ganglia from adult male Wistar rats treated with intraperitoneal injections of sodium aurothiomalate. Silver-amplified traces of gold were detected within the cytoplasm of ganglion cells, satellite cells, Schwann cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts throughout the ganglia. Gold was never detected in axons nor myelin sheaths. In the electron microscope, gold deposits were restricted to the lysosomes irrespective of cell type or dosage.