Binding of colchicine and thiocolchicoside to human serum proteins and blood cells

The binding of 3H-colchicine and its derivative 3H-thiocolchicoside to human serum, purified human proteins and blood cells was studied by equilibrium dialysis and centrifugation. Binding of colchicine and thiocolchicoside to human serum was 38.9 C +/- 4.7 and 12.8 C +/- 5.3%, respectively, essentially to albumin. Protein binding was not dependent on the concentration of either drug between 10(-10) and 10(-5)M. The binding of colchicine and thiocolchicoside to isolated erythrocytes (55 C +/- 5.6 and 16.5 C +/- 2.1%, respectively) decreased markedly in the presence of human serum proteins, i.e. in whole blood (38.7 C +/- 3.1 and 3.4 C +/- 0.8%). Binding of colchicine and thiocolchicoside to other blood cells was very low C < 3%). These binding properties in the blood compartment do not predispose colchicine and thiocolchicoside to be pharmacokinetically sensitive to binding displacement by drug interactions.