The Emerging Role of Colchicine to Inhibit NOD-like Receptor Family, Pyrin Domain Containing 3 Inflammasome and Interleukin-1β Expression in In Vitro Models

While the beneficial effects of colchicine on inflammation and infarcted myocardium have been documented, its impact on cardiac fibroblast activation in the context of myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of colchicine on the regulation of NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression in fibroblasts. 3T3 fibroblasts were exposed to 600 μM CoCl2 for 24 h to simulate hypoxia, with normoxic cells as controls. Colchicine (1 μM) was administered for 24 h. ASC-NLRP3 colocalization and IL-1β expression were evaluated using immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, respectively. Data were analyzed using t-tests and one-way ANOVA with post hoc tests. Hypoxia treatment significantly induced apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC)-NLRP3 colocalization (p < 0.05). Colchicine treatment of hypoxic 3T3 cells reduced ASC-NLRP3 colocalization, although this reduction was not statistically significant. Additionally, IL-1β expression was significantly inhibited in colchicine-treated hypoxic 3T3 cells compared to those treated with placebo (p < 0.05). The findings of this study indicate that colchicine treatment inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by disrupting the colocalization of ASC and NLRP3, thereby reducing IL-1β expression in CoCl2-treated 3T3 cells.