In vitro and in vivo effects of gold salts on chemotaxis and random migration of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

The effect produced by three gold salts (sodium aurothiomalate, allochrysine, auranofin) on chemotaxis and random migration of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was investigated under various experimental conditions. The drug activity was examined after incubation in vitro or after administration in vivo. PMNs were recruited after the induction of two acute inflammatory reactions (pleurisies induced by isologous serum or a suspension of calcium pyrophosphate (CaPP) crystals). The three gold salts administered in vivo and in vitro inhibited the chemotactic responses of the two cell types. This action was dose-dependent. Auranofin was the most effective substance while sodium aurothiomalate was the least. The random migration was not always significantly depressed especially for CaPP-elicited cells. Reduction in neutrophil chemotaxis might be an important additional mechanism in the action of gold salts and their activity on inflammatory PMNs recruited at inflammatory foci might be beneficial in the treatment in rheumatic diseases in which PMN migration would be implicated.