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.

TrxR:0.2 μM

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].