How Gold Interacts with Red Blood Cells
Author Information
Author(s): Yafei Zhang, Evelyn V. Hess, Keith G. Pryhuber, John G. Dorsey, Katherine Tepperman, R. C. Elder
Primary Institution: Biomedical Chemistry Research Center, University of Cincinnati
Hypothesis
What is the mechanism of gold's interaction with red blood cells?
Conclusion
Different patients show significant variability in how gold is distributed in their red blood cells, which may affect their response to treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- Gold levels in serum can be as high as 2.5 ppm after about 30 days of therapy.
- Gold levels in red blood cells vary significantly among patients, from 400 ppb to 2.4 ppm.
- Most of the gold in red blood cells is bound to a high molecular weight fraction, not hemoglobin.
- Dicyanogold(I) represents 4% of the total gold in low molecular weight species in red blood cells.
- Excess cyanide significantly inhibits the uptake of gold, suggesting a sulfhydryl shuttle mechanism.
Takeaway
Gold can help treat arthritis, but how it works in our blood is different for everyone. Some people have more gold in their blood cells than others.
Methodology
Flow injection analysis and high performance liquid chromatography with gold-specific inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry detection were used to study gold levels in red blood cells.
Participant Demographics
Patients being treated with Myochrysine for rheumatoid arthritis.
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