Cardiovasc Prev Pharmacother.  2022 Jan;4(1):7-12. 10.36011/cpp.2022.4.e5.

Anti-inflammatory effects of colchicine on coronary artery disease

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD). Several types of sterile inflammation are mediated through the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Colchicine has recently been shown to effectively block NLRP3 inflammasome assembly in addition to several other actions on inflammatory cells. Recent evidence also points to favorable effects of colchicine in patients with CAD, including lower levels of inflammatory markers, coronary plaque stabilization, and more favorable cardiac recovery after injury. This review focuses on the role of colchicine in the process of atherosclerosis and discusses its potential as a therapeutic option for the prevention and treatment of CAD.

Keyword

Atherosclerosis; Inflammation; Interleukin-1; Colchicine; Coronary artery disease

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