In few research studies it was found that Auranofin a gold containing compound have been used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanism through which it prevents rheumatoid arthritis is the inhibition of redox enzymes that play essential role in maintaining intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, by inhibiting these enzymes the cellular oxidative stress and intrinsic apoptosis is reduced that may lead to the preventive effect in rheumatoid arthritis. According to Madeira J M et al 2014 the gold compounds have anti-inflammatory activity that can be used in the treatment of various neurological disorders by preventing neuroinflammation. According to this research it was found that auranofin remarkably decline the cytotoxic secretions by microglia like THP-1 promonocytic cells.
Auranofin inhibits NADPH oxidase dependent respiratory burst and secretion of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide monocytic cells. Further it was revealed that it has direct neuroprotective effect on SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Therefore, from these studies it was concluded that auranofin may have novel application in neurodegenerative disorders.
