Leukocytes activation has a crucial role in several inflammatory diseases including gout, familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet’s disease. Colchicine is used in these disorders to inhibit leukocytes activation followed by relief of inflammations. Activation of leukocytes and its NLRP3 inflammasome are also thought to be involved in the development of severe COVID-19. Colchicine which inhibits these factors is apparently a candidate drug for the prevention of worsening.
We had studied colchicine’s pharmacokinetics in leukocytes, the inhibitory effect on experimental leukocytes activation, and anti-inflammatory effect on vascular endothelial function in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Based on these results, colchicine’s translational studies on leukocytes activation and thrombus formation involved in severe COVID-19 and the phase 2 clinical trial evaluating inflammatory biomarkers in COVID-19 patients have been investigated.
In my talk at the symposium, I would present clinical and preclinical data to discuss about concerning the therapeutic possibility of colchicine in COVID-19.