Colchicine in acute inflammation: stimulation of production of interleukin-1 and modulation of the acute phase serum amyloid A protein response.

The effects of colchicine on the acute phase serum amyloid A (SAA) response were studied in CBA/J mice to determine whether these effects are mediated via inhibition of interleukin-1 (IL-1) production. Prolonged pretreatment (72 h) with colchicine blunted the SAA response to stimulation with silver nitrate (AgNO3), while brief pretreatment (12 h) unexpected augmented SAA production. In a macrophage model, colchicine stimulated baseline production of IL-1 (SAA inducer and lymphocyte activating factor activities) and augmented lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced IL-1 production. This indicates that colchicine does not inhibit amyloidosis via direct effects on early inducers of the acute phase SAA response.