Colchicine against ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental lung transplantation

Background: To asses the influence of colchicine, a potent antinflammatory agent and neutrophile migration inhibitor, on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI) in rat lung isogeneic transplantation. Material/Methods: Isogeneic, orthotropic single left lung transplantations were performed among male Wistar rats after total ischemic graft storage time of 12 or IS hours in temperature of 4 degrees C. Recipients received either no specific treatment (control) or Colchicine 1.2 mg/kg/d ip. Twenty-four hours after transplantation, the native contralateral lung was occluded to assess graft gas exchange function (PaO2). The lung graft was excised and assessed for Wet/Dry ratio (W/D) as a measure of edema, Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) as a measure of neutrophile migration and histology. Results: PaO2 differences were not significant among all groups. Comparing colchicine to control group, the W/D ratio 3.93 +/- 0.66 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.32, p=0.002 and MPO 8.1 +/- 3.34 vs. 5.87 +/- 1.76, p=0.046 were significantly higher for 18 hours colchicine group. Comparing 18 to 12 hours time groups, the W/D ratio 5.70 +/- 1.53 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.32, p=0.007 for control groups and 5.40 +/- 1.49 vs. 3.93 +/- 0.66, p=0.049 for colchicine groups were significantly higher for both 12 h groups. Histology favored colchicine treated animals. Conclusions: Colchicine in tested dose does not decrease edema after lung transplantation and does not improve lung function. 18 vs. 12 hours total ischemic graft storage time causes less lung edema.