Abstract.
The aurocyanide anion, Au(CN) −2 , is a human metabolite of several anti-rheumatic gold complexes containing monovalent gold (I) bound to a sulphur ligand. This article reviews some of the chemical and pharmacological properties of this intriguing metabolite, and reports its anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity in rats. Au(CN) −2 is generated from the therapeutic gold complexes by small amounts of hydrogen cyanide, HCN, produced from thiocyanate, SCN−, by myeloperoxidase (MPO) an enzyme in neutrophils which normally produces hypochlorite, OCl−. Thus, Au(CN) −2 is formed at sites of inflammation where activated neutrophils are present. This includes atherosclerotic lesions as well as inflamed joints. MPO also oxidises Au(CN) −2 to Au(III) complexes such as Au(CN) −4 .
Au(CN) −2 is normally a very stable monovalent gold complex. In a biological context, only low concentrations are ever present at both extracellular and intracellular sites. However, Au(CN) −2 produced locally may facilitate the cellular uptake and hence the therapeutic and toxic effects of gold drugs. Au(CN) −2 may also be involved in a redox cycle where Au(CN) −2 is oxidised to Au(CN) −4 which is, in turn, reduced back to Au(CN) −2 by endogenous thiols. There are still many questions to be resolved concerning Au(CN) −2 including its intrinsic toxicity and the extent to which it may contribute to the overall anti-arthritic activities of the gold-thiolates from which it is formed in vivo.
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Received 4 July 2007; accepted 10 September 2007
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Graham, G.G., Whitehouse, M.W. & Bushell, G.R. Aurocyanide, dicyano-aurate (I), a pharmacologically active metabolite of medicinal gold complexes. Inflammopharmacol 16, 126–132 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-007-0020-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-007-0020-y