Colchicine prevents atrial fibrillation promotion by inhibiting IL-1β-induced IL-6 release and atrial fibrosis in the rat sterile pericarditis model

A few clinical trials have recently reported the potential effect of colchicine in preventing post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and early atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter pulmonary vein isolation. However, the molecular mechanisms through which colchicine inhibits AF remain unclear. We aim to assess the anti-AF effect of colchicine in the rat sterile pericarditis (SP) model and to investigate its molecular mechanisms. SP was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by the epicardial application of sterile talc. Treatment with colchicine or vehicle began 1 d before pericardiotomy. AF was induced by transesophageal burst pacing on day 3 after surgery. Treatment with colchicine reduced the duration of AF and the probability of induction of AF in SP rats. The dose of 0.5 mg kg^-1·day^-1 had the best effect. Such treatment also reduced neutrophil infiltration, the mRNA expression of IL-6, TGF-β, and TNF-α, atrial fibrosis, fibrosis related genes, and signal molecules (STAT3, P38, and Akt). Meanwhile, the release of IL-1β (4-24 h) and IL-6 (4-72 h) in atria after surgery was significantly inhibited by colchicine. In cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts, colchicine treatment inhibited IL-1β-induced expression of IL-6, which was accompanied by significantly decreased phosphorylation of P38, Akt, JNK, and NFκB. Interestingly, the supplementation of IL-6 abolished the anti-AF effect of colchicine in SP rats. Colchicine prevents AF in SP rats through the inhibition of IL-1β-induced IL-6 release and subsequent atrial fibrosis. However, further studies are required to investigate whether colchicine inhibits POAF through other mechanisms.