Sodium aurothiomalate inhibits T cell responses to interleukin-2

We studied the effects of the gold compound sodium aurothiomalate (SATM) on the responses of murine CTLL2 cells, and human T cells to Interleukin-2 (IL-2). SATM inhibited tritiated thymidine (3HTdR) incorporation by CTLL2 cells stimulated with human recombinant IL-2. Human T cells were cultured with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in separate experiments and IL-2 receptor expression measured by using immunofluorescent anti-Tac serum; SATM inhibited IL-2 receptor expression. Furthermore, SATM when added concurrently with PHA, and IL-2 inhibited 3HTdR incorporation by human T cells in 5 day cultures. The kinetics of inhibition were further studied by adding PHA to T cells for 48 hours followed by the addition of SATM and IL-2; SATM inhibited 3HTdR incorporation even though receptor expression had occurred. These results suggest that SATM inhibits the stimulatory effects of IL-2 on T cells partly by interfering with IL-2 receptor expression, and partly by other mechanisms of action. These effects of SATM may explain some of the conflicting data in the literature on T cell responses to IL-2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and suggest a possible mechanism of action for the drug in the treatment of RA.