Macrophages and an immuno-suppressive effect of released gold ions
The authors studied whether growing human macrophages on 24-carat gold foils could lead to a release of gold ions and cellular incorporation, and whether this would have an effect on gene expression and subsequent protein secretion and cell viability.
By means of autometallographie (AMG) an increased intracellular uptake of gold ions in cultivated macrophages was shown after 4 days, but not earlier than that. No significant effect on the viability of the cells was found, which suggests that the anti-inflammatory effects might not be mediated via macrophage cell death.
Cells that had taken up gold ions revealed a unique gene expression signature. Of 20,000 genes investigated about 5% were regulated differently in the gold group to the control group. A large number of regulated genes were functionally related to immunomodulation. Gold ion uptake induced reduction of gene expression and production of some proteins involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or chronic inflammations. The role of gold in the treatment of RA thus possibly relies in suppressing expression of such proteins.
The investigation results offer new insights into the mode of action of gold ions and suggest the investigation of effects on other key cells such as T- and B-lymphocytes. They point to the future role of metallic gold implants in treating rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
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