Gold salts anyone?

Dr. David Pisetsky, chief of the division of rheumatology and immunology at Duke University Medical Center have recently found the curative property of gold salts for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Dr. Pisetsky, working with other scientists at Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of Pittsburg, have been studying the functional properties of HMGB1 molecules, which converts DNA to RNA inside the nucleus and is released from the cell either through normal processes or cell death. This molecule is released from the cell by the help of interferon-beta and nitric oxide. HMBG1 belongs to the High Mobility Group proteins that not only act on DNA transcription but also play a role on DNA repair. HMGB1, once released by the cell, attracts neutrophils and other inflammatory cells to infected tissue. This (HMGB1) molecule is found to be high in the synovial tissue and joint fluid where arthritis commonly occurs. Pisetsky and colleagues conducted their research on the properties of gold by stimulating mouse and human immune cells to release HMGB1 then treat them with gold salts. What they found was that when the immune cells were exposed to gold salts, there was an inhibition in the release of HMGB1 molecules from the nucleus. The implication is that if you block the release of HMGB1 molecules (which stimulates the aggregation of inflammatory cells in one location) then it should decrease the immune response. The gold salts inhibits the release of HMGB1 by blocking the helper molecules (interferon-beta and nitric oxide) so it is sequestered inside the nucleus and therefore cannot stimulate the immune system.

But like all the other treatments (for any disease), gold salts has its own side effects, which includes rashes, kidney damage and bone marrow's ability to synthesize blood cells and its ability to decrease immune system response via HMGB1 inhibition takes months to take effect. So until they figure out how to decrease some of the side effects and also decrease the time for gold salts to work, it could be awhile before this treatment would be as effective as one would hope. Still, it looks like Pisetsky and colleagues are going in the right direction in searching for another possible treatment for arthritis.

More information about HMGB1 protein:
HMGB1 proteins is secreted by macrophages and monocytes that were activated by IL-1 or TNF-alpha and act as a chemoattractant for myeloid and muscle cells. These proteins stimulates the expression of adhesion molecules in the endothelial cells, making it easy for inflammatory cells to bind and migrate to infected sites. This molecule also impairs the barrier function of intestinal epithelia (inhibiting the protective activity of intestine against pathogens). HMGB1 activity is initiated by binding to RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products), which is present in many immunoglobulin cells. The binding of HMGB1 to RAGE activates the chemoattractant capabilities of HMGB1 proteins thus stimulating the inflammatory response.


www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071022153109.htm (from Science Daily)
'Role of Toll-like Receptors in HMGB1 release from Macrophages' by David Pisetsky and Weiwen Jiang (from Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences)