title: Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
abstract: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an amphipathic molecule that is commonly/widely used as a solvent for biological compounds. In addition, DMSO has been studied as a medication for the treatment of inflammation, cystitis, and arthritis. Based on the anti-inflammatory characteristics of DMSO, we elucidated the effects of DMSO on activation of inflammasomes, which are cytoplasmic multi-protein complexes that mediate the maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β by activating caspase-1 (Casp1). In the present study, we prove that DMSO attenuated IL-1β maturation, Casp1 activity, and ASC pyroptosome formation via NLRP3 inflammasome activators. Further, NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasome activity were not affected, suggesting that DMSO is a selective inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasomes. The anti-inflammatory effect of DMSO was further confirmed in animal, LPS-endotoxin sepsis and inflammatory bowel disease models. In addition, DMSO inhibited LPS-mediating IL-1s transcription. Taken together, DMSO shows anti-inflammatory characteristics, attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and mediates inhibition of IL-1s transcription.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Huijeong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeeyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eui-Bae
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 200-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: leegeun@kangwon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Geun-Shik
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C410167:AIM2 protein, human; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D053468:CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C435692:NLRC4 protein, human; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human; D020170:Caspase 1; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide
keywords: Cytokine; DMSO; Inflammasome; Interleukin-1; Macrophages; NLRP3