The inflammasome is a large, multiprotein complex that consists of a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR), an apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain, and pro-caspase-1. Activation of the inflammasome results in cleavage of pro-caspase-1 into cleaved caspase-1, which promotes the processing of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β into mature I...

The pathogenesis of lithocholic acid (LCA-Na)-induced cholestasis involves a rapid accumulation of cholesterol in the bile canalicular membrane. Since microtubules play an important role in the intracellular transport of many materials, including cholesterol, the present study was undertaken to assess the extent to which they participate in the development of LCA-Na-induced cholestasis. Rats we...

Binding and internalization of 125I-ovine prolactin into hepatocytes of female rats was visualized by the in vivo radioautographic method (Bergeron, J. J. M., G. Levine, R. Sikstrom, D. O'Shaughnessey, B. Kopriwa, N. J. Nadler, and B. I. Posner, 1977, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 745:051-5055). Receptor-mediated internalization of label was observed into lipoprotein-filled vesicles in the Golgi/...

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive and autoinflammatory disease, characterized with inflammation of serous membranes such as peritoneum, pleura, synovium with fever and pain. Colchicine is the main treatment of FMF, but 5-10 % of patients are unresponsive to colchicine. We report using anti-interleukin-1 agents anakinra and canakinumab in four colchicine-resistant pati...

Colchicine is the treatment of choice in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) both for attacks and for prevention of secondary amyloidosis. The overall non-responder rate varies from 5-10 to 40%. Thalidomide is known to blunt the acute phase response. We report the efficacy of the addition of thalidomide to colchicine in controlling the febrile attacks and acute phase response in a patient with F...

Oxidative stress appears to be an early event involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Centella asiatica against colchicine-induced memory impairment and oxidative damage in rats. Colchicine (15 mug/5 muL) was administered intracerebroventricularly in the lateral ventricle of male wistar rats. Morris water ...

Colchicine is a plant-derived alkaloid that disrupts the cell microtubule system and accumulates in neutrophils, inhibiting neutrophil adhesion and recruitment. Colchicine has been used extensively in the prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis attacks, familial Mediterranean fever attacks and resultant AA amyloidosis, and recurrent pericarditis. Colchicine also disrupts the intracellular t...

The effects of colchicine on spermiogenesis in the mouse were examined. Mice were injected intratesticularly with colchicine in concentrations of 10(-4) M to 10(-6) M for various periods of time. The ultrastructure of the testes was examined and abnormal sperm in the epididymis were scored. Colchicine degraded microtubules in the testis and the treatment caused abnormalities of the head and acr...

Drug-induced injury (DILI) is a frequent cause of abnormal liver tests and a leading cause of liver failure in the United States. Colchicine has long been used as a systemic anti-inflammatory agent for treatment of gout by inhibiting mitotic activity and neutrophil function. We present the first case of colchicine-induced hepatoxicity, supported by histopathologic findings characteristic of col...