Lumicolchicine: Lack of antiinflammatory effect

The antimitotic effects of colchicine appear to depend upon binding of the drug to the cytoplasmic protein that forms microtubules. Lumicolchicines (photoisomers of colchicine) do not bind to microtubule protein, and do not interfere with the organization of the mitotic spindle. The antiinflammatory effects of colchicine may also depend upon binding to microtubule protein, in appropriate nondividing cells. If so, lumicolchicine would not be expected to have an antiinflammatory effect. Such was the case in this report, in which the reversed passive Arthus reaction in the rat served as test stystem.