Auranofin (SKF-39162) is an antirheumatic agent, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, improves arthritis symptoms including painful or tender and swollen joints and morning stiffness.

Auranofin, an established rheumatoid arthritis treatment, also shows promise across a spectrum of other conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. It triggers apoptosis via a Bax/Bak-dependent pathway by selectively disrupting mitochondrial redox balance and oxidizing Prx3[1]. Furthermore, auranofin hampers SKOV3 cell proliferation and survival in a dose- and time-specific manner, instigating caspase-3 activation, elevating pro-apoptotic Bax and Bim proteins, and diminishing the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 in SKOV3 cells[2]. This lipophilic gold-based agent, known for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive characteristics, notably impedes cell growth and induces mitochondrial apoptosis in PC3 human prostate cancer cells, with a noteworthy reduction in cell viability at an IC50 of 2.5 µM after 24 hours[3].

Prophylactic treatment of adjuvant-induced arthritis rats with auranofin results in a slight reduction in paw edema, a complete normalization of the depressed IL-2 production, and a reduction of the elevated IL-1 production, without effect on the depressed IL-3 production[4].

Auranofin is dissolved in DMSO. Cells are treated with auranofin (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 nM) for 72 h for the dose-dependent response assay and 100 nM of auranofin is added into the wells for 0, 24, 72 and 120 h for the time-dependent response assay. Control cultures are treated with DMSO. Cell viability is measured by the MTT assay[2].