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Updated: Aug 4, 2026
08:26
Measuring the 50% Haemolytic Complement (CH50) Activity of Serum
Published on: March 29, 2010
Inhibition of complement by gold sodium thiomalate
The Journal of Rheumatology
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Gold sodium thiomalate minimally inhibits complement activation by monosodium urate monohydrate and zymosan at therapeutic concentrations. These findings suggest limited impact on complement pathways during chrysotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Gold sodium thiomalate is a gold salt used in chrysotherapy for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
- The complement system, comprising C3 and factor B, plays a crucial role in immune responses and inflammation.
- Monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) and zymosan are known activators of the complement system via classical and alternative pathways, respectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of gold sodium thiomalate on the activation of complement components C3 and factor B.
- To determine the inhibitory potential of gold sodium thiomalate on complement activation induced by both classical (MSUM) and alternative (zymosan) pathway activators.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative immunoelectrophoretic assay was employed to measure complement activation.
- The study assessed the conversion of C3 and factor B in the presence of varying concentrations of gold sodium thiomalate.
- Activation was induced using monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) for the classical pathway and zymosan for the alternative pathway.
Main Results:
- Gold sodium thiomalate significantly inhibited C3 and factor B conversion by MSUM (classical pathway) in a dose-dependent manner.
- Inhibition of alternative pathway activation by zymosan was considerably less pronounced compared to the classical pathway.
- No significant inhibition of complement activation was observed at gold concentrations below 10(-4)M, and concentrations achievable in patients receiving chrysotherapy showed minimal inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Gold sodium thiomalate exhibits dose-dependent inhibition of complement activation, primarily affecting the classical pathway.
- The concentrations of gold achievable during chrysotherapy are unlikely to significantly inhibit complement system activation in vivo.
- The clinical relevance of these in vitro findings regarding the complement system's role in chrysotherapy requires further investigation.
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