Colchicine acts by inhibiting polymerization of which cellular structure to reduce neutrophil activity in gout?

• A. Actin filaments
• B. DNA
• C. Ribosomes
• D. Microtubules

Answer: (D)

Colchicine works by preventing the assembly of microtubules. It binds to tubulin, blocking polymerization, and microtubules are essential for neutrophil movement and function. With impaired microtubule formation, neutrophils can’t effectively migrate to the site of urate crystal deposition, nor do they degranulate or phagocytose as efficiently, which reduces the inflammatory response in gout. The other structures aren’t the targets of colchicine: actin filaments are part of the cell’s contractile machinery but colchicine specifically disrupts microtubules; DNA replication, and ribosome function are not the processes inhibited by this drug.