Aernoud Fiolet

372 Chapter 15 that are used for moving components within the cell. This facilitates cell division (mitosis), intracellular trafficking and secretion of cytokines and chemokines, and regulation of ion channels. 22 Microtubules are thus essential in cell movement and activation, the principal part of any inflammatory response. Among others, the anti-inflammatory effects of colchicine are related to the following established concepts in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: 1) neutrophil recruitment and adhesion, 2) inflammasome inhibition, and 3) platelet morphological changes and aggregation. (Figure 3) Figure 3. Three potential mechanisms of action of colchicine in atherosclerosis. Three different mechanisms that may contribute to the atheroprotective effects of colchicine in atherosclerosis are highlighted. Abbreviations: IL-1B, interleukin-1 β . LDL, low-density lipoprotein. NLRP3, nucleotide- binding oligomerisation domain–, leucine-rich repeat–, and pyrin domain–containing protein 3.