Suppression of active Arthus reaction by colchicine

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Abstract
An effect of colchicine on the active Arthus reaction in rabbits was investigated in vivo with simultaneous evaluation of in vitro chemotacdc activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Arthus reactions were induced by intracutancous injection of ovalbumin into rabbits prcimmunized with ovalbumin. Colchicine, 1 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg, injected intraperitoneally one hour prior to the induction of the Arthus reaction, suppressed erythema and induration at 12 h, when histology showed decreased numbers of infiltrated polymorphonuclear leukocytes and no apparent vascular damage. Perivascular deposits of C3, suggestive of the presence of immune complexes, persisted to 24 h. In vitro chcmotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes using Boyden chamber techniques revealed suppression of the activity in the colchicinc–treatcd animals at 6 and 12 h. These findings suggest that colchicine inhibits vascular injury by interfering with directional chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to the lesional sites.