Effect of colchicine on the migration of human lymphocyte subpopulations under agarose

The effect of colchicine on the random migration of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells under agarose gel was studied. Separated T cell and non-rosetting sheep red blood cell fractions were incubated in the presence of colchicine at concentrations ranging from 10(-8)M to 10(-2)M, and then allowed to migrate for 72 hours. Significant inhibition of migration was not observed at colchicine concentrations less than 10(-3)M. At 10(-3)M, significant impairment of both T cell (p less than 0.01) and non-rosetting cell (p less than 0.001) migration was observed. At 10(-2)M colchicine, migration was completely inhibited. Enhancement of migration of any type of human mononuclear cells by colchicine was not observed at any concentration. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that microtubules are not required for the random migration of these cells.