INHIBITION OF DENATURATION OF HUMAN GAMMA-GLOBULIN BY A MIXTURE OF L-HISTIDINE, L-CYSTINE, AND COPPER, AND ITS CLINICAL IMPLICATION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

A mixture of histidine, cystine and Cu mimicked gold thiomalate, N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid in inhibiting sulfhydryl-disulfide interchange-mediated denaturation of human .gamma. globulin, bovine serum albumin and diluted human serum. Measurable inhibitory effects were obtained with a mixture of physiologic concentrations of L-histidine, L-cystine, and Cu. A mechanism is suggested by which the hypohistidinemia of rheumatoid arthritis could contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.