Effects of gold salts and penicillamine on serum complement.

The effects of the gold salt sodium aurothiomalate and of d-penicillamine on complement were studied in vitro. Total haemolytic complement was inhibited by 0.05-1mM gold. The inhibitory potency of gold was inversely correlated to the concentration of complement in the system, but was not diminished by albumin or decomplemented serum protein in concentrations approaching those circulating in blood. Penicillamine which itself slightly inhibited complement, prevented or reversed the action of gold. Conversion of C1s to C1esterase was not inhibited. Gold inhibited the action of C1esterase on component C4, but not the action on small-molecular synthetic ester substrates. Only very high gold concentrations (375-560 microM) inhibited the conversion of C3 to C3b. No inhibition of the alternative pathway was detected.

Prostaglandins and complement changes in some conditions related to inflammation.

Exposure to ionizing radiation produces several systemic and local reactions which could be mediated by prostaglandins. Prostaglandin levels were therefore studied in blood and tissues of mice which had been exposed to x-rays. Significant increases were found in spleens after 200 to 700 R, and in lungs after 600 to 700 R. These changes were most pronounced 4-7 days after irradiation. Ionizing radiation promptly and potently reduced the activity of prostaglandin dehydrogenase in the spleen, whereas prostaglandin synthesis was less affected. Evidence was obtained for the activation and consumption of haemolytic complement in serum in the course of heart-lung operations involving extracorporeal circulation. Activation involved primarily the classical pathway, and only slightly the alternate pathway.