Effect of colchicine on acetaminophen-induced liver damage

Colchicine Ameliorates 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

Background and Objective. 5-Fluorouracil is one of the most common chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of solid tumors. 5-Fluorouracil-associated cardiotoxicity is the second cause of cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapeutic drugs after anthracyclines. Colchicine is a strong anti-inflammatory drug used to prevent and treat acute gout and treat familial Mediterranean fever. And also, its protective effects on cardiovascular disease have been reported in various studies. The current study is aimed at appraising the effect of colchicine on 5-fluorouracil-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Methods. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: control, 5-fluorouracil, colchicine (5 mg/kg), and 5-fluorouracil+5 mg/kg colchicine. Cardiotoxicity was induced with an intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 5-fluorouracil (100 mg/kg). The control group received normal saline, and the treatment groups received colchicine with an intraperitoneal injection for 14 days. Findings. 5-Fluorouracil resulted in significant cardiotoxicity represented by an increase in cardiac enzymes, malondialdehyde levels, cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression, cardiac enzymes, and histopathological degenerations. 5-Fluorouracil treatment also decreased body weight, total antioxidant capacity and catalase values, blood cells, and hemoglobin levels. In addition, 5-fluorouracil disrupted electrocardiographic parameters, including increased elevation in the ST segment and increased QRS duration. Treatment with colchicine reduced oxidative stress, cardiac enzymes, histopathological degenerations, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in cardiac tissue, improved electrocardiographic disorders, and enhanced the number of blood cells and total antioxidant capacity levels. Moreover, body weight loss was hampered after treatment with colchicine. Our results demonstrated that treatment with colchicine significantly improved cardiotoxicity induced by 5-fluorouracil in rats.

The possible protective effect of colchicine against liver damage induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury: role of Nrf2 and NLRP3 inflammasome

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) induces an inflammatory response and production of reactive oxygen species, which affects the organs remote to the sites of renal IR. However, remote effects of renal IRI on the liver need further investigations. Renal injury associated with liver disease is a common clinical problem. Colchicine is an established drug for microtubule stabilization that may reduce tissue injury and has antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was (i) to assess the hepatic changes after induction of renal IRI, (ii) to explore the possible protective effect of colchicine on liver injury following renal IRI, and (iii) to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the potential effect. Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group, colchicine-treated group, IR group, and colchicine-treated IR group. Colchicine treatment improved liver function (ALT/AST) after renal IRI, decreased hepatic oxidative stress and cell apoptosis by reducing hepatic MDA, upregulating hepatic total antioxidant capacity, Nrf2, and HO-1. Furthermore, colchicine inhibited inflammatory responses by downregulating hepatic NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1β, and caspase-1. Colchicine attenuates renal IRI-induced liver injury in rats. This effect may be due to reducing inflammation and oxidative stress markers.

The effects of grape seed and colchicine on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage in rats

This study aims to determine the effects of grape seed and colchicine on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damage and on some serum biochemical parameters. Sixty male Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were randomly divided into six groups (ten rats/group) and included the control group the group were given isotonic sodium chloride (1 mL/kg b.w) intraperitonealy (i.p.), group 2 the group treated i.p. injection of CCl4 (1.0 mL/kg b.w) in corn oil twice in the first week, Groups 3 and 4 injected with CCl4 as described for group 2 and the rats were orally given (100 mg/kg b.w) GSE and i.p. injected (10 μg/rat) with colchicine for four weeks, respectively and groups 5 and 6 were the grape seed and colchicine control groups in which rats were orally given grape seed (100 mg/kg b.w) and i.p. injected with colchicine (10 μg/rat), respectively. Anorexia, weight loss, motionlessness and hepatic colour variation at necropsy were observed in groups 2, 3, and 4. Hyperemia, focal bleeding, fat degeneration, changes ranging from degenerative to necrotic, increase in connective tissue elements, pronounced in portal sites in particular, and infiltration of lymphoid series cell observed in the livers of the rats in group 2, treated with CCl4. Histological hepatic changes in the rats in group 3 and 4 were similar to those in group 2. The levels of serum total protein, albumin and globulin decreased in groups 2, 3, and 4, compared with groups 1, 5 and 6; aspartate transaminase (ALT) activities increased. The lowest alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were in groups 4 and 5. We concluded that GSE and colchicine have not sufficient ameliorative effects to CCl4 induced acute hepatic damage.

Cytoskeletal proteins: shaping progression of hepatitis C virus-induced liver disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which results in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in most patients (70-85%), is a major cause of liver disease and remains a major therapeutic challenge. The mechanisms determining liver damage and the key factors that lead to a high rate of CHC remain imperfectly understood. The precise role of cytoskeletal (CS) proteins in HCV infection remains to be determined. Some studies including our recent study have demonstrated that changes occur in the expression of CS proteins in HCV-infected hepatocytes. A variety of host proteins interact with HCV proteins. Association between CS and HCV proteins may have implications in future design of CS protein-targeted therapy for the treatment for HCV infection. This chapter will focus on the interaction between host CS and viral proteins to signify the importance of this event in HCV entry, replication and transportation.

Beneficial drugs for liver diseases

Liver diseases are a major problem of worldwide proportions. However, the number of drugs actually used successfully in humans is very small. In this review some of the most promising/studied drugs utilized for liver diseases were chosen and analysed critically from the basic to the clinical point of view. Antiviral agents are not discussed because excellent reviews have appeared on this topic. The compounds/preparations described herein are, alphabetically: colchicine, corticosteroids, curcumin, glycyrrhizin, interferons (for their antifibrotic properties), Liv 52, nitric oxide, resveratrol, silymarin, sulfoadenosylmethionine, and thalidomide. Colchicine and corticosteroids have been studied extensively in animals and humans; most clinical studies suggest that these compounds are not useful in the treatment of liver diseases. Glycyrrhizin is an herbal medicine with several components that has interesting hepatoprotective properties in patients with subacute liver failure but deserves more prospective controlled trials. Interferon has shown interesting antifibrotic properties in animals and humans; prospective studies on their antifibrotic/fibrolytic activity are required. Curcumin, resveratrol and thalidomide are very attractive newly discovered protective and curative compounds on experimental hepatic diseases. Their mechanism of action is associated with the ability to down-regulate NF-kappaB and to decrease pronecrotic and profibrotic cytokines. Unfortunately, clinical studies are lacking. Sulfoadenosylmethionine and silymarin are also promising drugs utilized mainly in cholestasis but the benefits can be expanded if more controlled trials are performed. The future is to carry out controlled prospective double-blind multicenter studies with the newly discovered drugs with proven beneficial effects on animals. Fundamental hepatobiology should also be encouraged.

Colchicine treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of patient survival

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Colchicine improved survival and reversed cirrhosis in several small clinical trials. We compared the efficacy and safety of long-term colchicine, as compared with placebo, in patients with advanced alcoholic cirrhosis.

METHODS

Five hundred forty-nine patients with advanced (Pugh B or C) alcoholic cirrhosis were randomized to receive either colchicine 0.6 mg twice per day (n = 274) or placebo (n = 275). Treatment lasted from 2 to 6 years. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were liver-related morbidity and mortality. Liver biopsy was requested prior to entry and after 24 months of treatment.

RESULTS

Attendance at scheduled clinic visits and adherence with study medication were similar in colchicine and placebo groups. Alcohol intake was less than 1 drink per day in 69% of patients. In an intention-to-treat analysis, all-cause mortality was similar in colchicine (49%) and placebo (45%) patients (P = .371). Mortality attributed to liver disease was 32% in colchicine and 28% in placebo patients (P = .337). Fewer patients receiving colchicine developed hepatorenal syndrome. In 54 patients with repeat liver biopsies after 24 or more months of treatment, cirrhosis improved to septal fibrosis in 7 patients (3 colchicine, 4 placebo) and to portal fibrosis in 1 patient (colchicine).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with advanced alcoholic cirrhosis, colchicine does not reduce overall or liver-specific mortality. Liver histology improves to septal fibrosis in a minority of patients after 24 months of treatment, with similar rates of improvement in patients receiving placebo and colchicine. Colchicine is not recommended for patients with advanced alcoholic cirrhosis.

Colchicine protects mice from the lethal effect of an agonistic anti-Fas antibody

The aim of this study was to determine whether colchicine, which has been reported to protect against various hepatotoxic insults, influences the susceptibility of mice to the agonistic anti-Fas antibody, Jo2. All mice that were pretreated with colchicine (2 mg/kg) survived the lethal challenge of intraperitoneal administration of 10 microg of Jo2, whereas all control mice pretreated with gamma-lumicolchicine succumbed to the challenge. Twelve micrograms of Jo2 killed less than half of colchicine-pretreated mice and its lethal effects were delayed relative to control mice, which all died within 8 hours. Other microtubule-disrupting agents such as Taxol, vinblastine, and nocodazole also improved the survival of mice treated with the lethal dose of Jo2. Histologic examination showed that colchicine protected against Jo2-induced fulminant liver injury, and TUNEL assay demonstrated that colchicine protected against massive apoptosis of hepatocytes. Hepatocytes isolated from colchicine-pretreated mice exhibited decreased susceptibility to Jo2-induced apoptosis. In addition, colchicine pretreatment reduced surface expression of Fas and decreased Jo2- and TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis of cultured hepatocytes in the presence of actinomycin D, but did not affect the susceptibility of cultured sinusoidal endothelial cells to Jo2-induced apoptosis. Remarkably, Fas and TNF receptor-1 mRNA and intracellular protein levels increased after colchicine treatment, indicating that colchicine protects against death ligand-induced apoptosis in the liver by decreasing death-receptor targeting to the cell surface.

Effect of colchicine and trimethylcolchicinic acid on CCl4-induced cirrhosis in the rat

Colchicine is one of the most promising drugs for the treatment of cirrhosis. However, due to its toxicity, other drugs are being evaluated and colchicine-like molecules may be good alternatives. The aim of this work was to compare the beneficial effects of colchicine and trimethylcolchicinic acid (a colchicinoid less toxic than colchicine) on CCl4-cirrhosis. The drugs were administered either through CCl4 administration (8 weeks) or after CCl4 intoxication for 4 weeks at a dose of 10 micrograms/rat/day, orally. Liver plasma membranes were isolated for high affinity Ca(2+)-ATPase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase activities. The activities of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase were also measured in serum. Liver glycogen content and a marker for lipid peroxidation were determined in liver samples. We found that both compounds preserved and significantly reversed high affinity Ca(2+)-ATPase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase plasma membrane and serum enzyme activities as well as the hepatic glycogen content.

High fat diet and liver damage induced by biliary obstruction in the rat

There is a great body of evidence linking a high fat diet with the formation of gallstones. However, the effect of fat per se on obstructive liver damage (not involving gallstone formation) has not been assessed. The aim of this work was to study the effect of a high fat diet on liver damage induced by bile duct ligation in rats. Male 21-day-old Wistar rats were divided into two groups: group 1 received standard Purina chow diet 5001 containing 4.5% fat, group 2 received Purina chow diet 5001 enriched with 33% pork fat. Animals were allowed food and water ad libitum for 5 weeks. Obstructive jaundice was induced by double ligation and division of the common bile duct. The animals were sacrificed 1 week after biliary obstruction. Control animals were sham operated. Serum bilirubins and alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and glutamic pyruvic transminase enzyme activities increased by biliary obstruction. Glycogen content decreased in the bile duct-ligated rats. These effects were more important in the group fed a 33% fat diet. Our results show that a high animal fat diet increases liver damage in experimental biliary obstruction in rats. Owing to our experimental design (bile duct ligation), the effect of a high fat diet cannot be attributed to an increase in the formation of gallstones but a direct effect must be considered. The mechanism by which fat augmented liver damage can be associated with an increase of total bile content and its toxicity.

Protective effect of colchicine on acute liver damage induced by CCl4. Role of cytochrome P-450

The aim of this work was to study if colchicine protects against. CCl4-induced changes in hepatic biochemical parameters by reducing cytochrome P-450, by comparing the effects of colchicine and SKF 525-A, a well-known inhibitor of cytochrome P-450. Our results show that both drugs reduced the cytochrome P-450 content and p-nitroanisole o-demethylase activity to the same extent. However, colchicine afforded a total protection from markers of liver injury, while SKF 525-A protected only partially. The difference in the hepatoprotective activity of both drugs indicates that the beneficial effect of colchicine cannot be attributed solely to the inhibition of the activation of CCl4. Other actions, perhaps at the level of the propagation of lipid peroxidation or a 'membrane-stabilizing' effect cannot be ruled out.

Role of lipid peroxidation in biliary obstruction in the rat

There is poor evidence about the participation of lipoperoxidative processes in liver damage induced by biliary obstruction, thus the aim of this work was to study the role of lipid peroxidation in this model of liver injury. Biliary obstruction was induced in male Wistar rats by ligation of the common bile duct; control animals were sham operated. Rats were sacrificed at different times after surgery. Liver sections were used for glycogen and lipoperoxidation quantification. Markers of liver damage were determined in serum. All serum markers of liver damage increased after 1 day of biliary obstruction. Liver glycogen content decreased 1 day after surgery. On the other hand, lipoperoxidation increased later than markers of liver damage, suggesting that it is a consequence rather than the cause of liver injury. Moreover, administration of colchiceine (a good free-radical scavenger) or vitamin E prevented lipoperoxidation but not liver damage, confirming that lipoperoxidation does not play an important role in liver damage induced by biliary obstruction. This model of liver injury seems to be useful for testing hepatoprotective drugs that do not act as free-radical scavengers.

Protective effect of S-adenosyl-l-methionine on liver damage induced by biliary obstruction in rats: a histological, ultrastructural and biochemical approach

In human and experimental CCl4-liver damage, S-adenosyl-l-methionine-synthetase and/or the intrahepatic content of S-adenosyl-l-methionine, are diminished and in human cirrhosis phospholipid methyltransferase is markedly reduced. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of S-adenosyl-l-methionine administration on liver damage induced by 15-day bile duct ligation. Liver damage was analyzed by histological, ultrastructural and biochemical techniques. Biliary obstruction produced an increase in collagen content, dilation of the bile canaliculi and disorganization of mitochondria. These effects were not observed in the bile-duct-ligated group receiving S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Biochemical results showed that bile duct ligation increased serum bilirubins, and alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities. These effects were prevented significantly by S-adenosyl-l-methionine. On the other hand, glycogen content in the liver was depleted while lipid peroxidation was increased by biliary obstruction, S-adenosyl-l-methionine administration prevented these effects. In the bile-duct-ligated group, hepatocyte and erythrocyte plasma membrane Na+/K+ and Ca(2+)-ATPase were lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Administration of S-adenosyl-l-methionine preserved ATPase activities. The exogenous S-adenosyl-l-methionine supply is probably responsible for restoring transmethylation lost in liver diseases.