Gold sodium thiomalate activates latent human leukocyte collagenase

Gold sodium thiomalate, a drug used widely in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, was found to be an activator of latent human polymorphonuclear leukocyte collagenase. The activation was demonstrated by two distinct and independent collagenase assays: by recording with a spectrophotometer at 227 nm the enzyme-induced increase in ultraviolet difference absorbance of native type I collagen connected to the cleavage of collagen at 37 degrees C [(1986) Eur. J. Biochem. 156, 1-4] and by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of formation of specific products of collagen resulting from collagenase cleavage at 25 degrees C. Activation of latent collagenase by gold sodium thiomalate appeared to be of the same magnitude as by the known activator phenylmercuric chloride.