THE ANTICOAGULANT AND ANTILYMPHOMA PROPERTIES OF ARSENIC AZOPROTEINS

Abstract

Experiments here given show that 4-arsonophenylazoproteins form complexes with fibrinogen which are resistant to the enzymic action of thrombin, coagulation being thus inhibited; also that arsenic azoproteins combine strongly with polymerizing fibrin, the reaction leading uniquely to acceleration of the process. Ordinary arsenicals have little or no effect on the proliferation of Lymphoma 6C3HED cells in vivo. 4-Arsonophenylazoproteins, by contrast, are strongly inhibitory, and they arrest the process of mitosis in metaphase, as does colchicine. Considered together with the observations of the preceding paper, the findings suggest that 4-arsonophenylazoproteins may exert their anticoagulant and antilymphoma effects by similar or related means: in the former instance, by combining in vitro with fibrinogen and polymerizing fibrin, thus altering the clotting process as mentioned above; and in the latter instance by combining, perhaps in a similar way, with polymerizing proteins in the mitotic spindle of proliferating Lymphoma 6C3HED cells, thus arresting mitosis. Further implications of the findings are discussed.