The effects of auranofin and gold sodium aurothiomalate on the chemiluminescent response of stimulated synovial tissue cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Mononuclear cells were obtained from synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The cells were stimulated with opsonized zymosan and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assayed by chemiluminescence. The effects of gold sodium thiomalate (GSTM) and auranofin (AF) on the chemiluminescent response were observed. Synovial tissue cells showed a chemiluminescent response suggesting their ability to release ROS; this response was inhibited by AF but not by GSTM.