Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO): a solvent that may solve selected cutaneous clinical challenges
Maria Karim 1, Robert S Boikess 2, Robert A Schwartz 3, Philip J Cohen 4 5
Affiliations Expand
PMID: 36459193 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-022-02494-1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36459193/
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a clear, odorless liquid, inexpensively produced as a by-product of the wood pulp industry. DMSO's unique chemical properties allow for its broad applications in a wide variety of cutaneous challenges. Widely available in the USA as a solvent, DMSO is FDA-approved only for the treatment of interstitial cystitis and for use as a preservative for organ transplant. DMSO readily penetrates and diffuses through biological membranes. At low concentrations, DMSO exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, vasodilator, anti-platelet aggregation, radio-protective, and muscle-relaxing properties. DMSO is also a vigorous scavenger of hydroxyl free radicals, which may explain its observed beneficial effects on skin rejuvenation and recovery from thermal injury. DMSO has a relatively low level of toxicity. DMSO has shown promise in the off-label treatment of basal cell carcinoma, pressure ulcers, scleroderma, herpes simplex, cutaneous fungal infections, and amyloidosis. The potential of DMSO to serve as an independent or adjuvant topical treatment for these conditions is explored in this review.
Keywords: Amyloidosis; Basal cell carcinoma; Cutaneous fungal infections; DMSO; Dimethyl sulfoxide; Herpes simplex; Pressure ulcers; Scleroderma.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
PLoS One
. 2016 Mar 31;11(3):e0152538. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152538. eCollection 2016.
DMSO Represses Inflammatory Cytokine Production from Human Blood Cells and Reduces Autoimmune Arthritis
Ingrid Elisia 1, Hisae Nakamura 1, Vivian Lam 1, Elyse Hofs 1, Rachel Cederberg 1, Jessica Cait 2, Michael R Hughes 2, Leora Lee 1, William Jia 3, Hans H Adomat 4, Emma S Guns 4, Kelly M McNagny 2, Ismael Samudio 1, Gerald Krystal 1
Affiliations Expand
PMID: 27031833 PMCID: PMC4816398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152538
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27031833/
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is currently used as an alternative treatment for various inflammatory conditions as well as for cancer. Despite its widespread use, there is a paucity of data regarding its safety and efficacy as well as its mechanism of action in human cells. Herein, we demonstrate that DMSO has ex-vivo anti-inflammatory activity using Escherichia coli- (E. coli) and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1)-stimulated whole human blood. Specifically, we found that between 0.5%-2%, DMSO significantly suppressed the expression of many pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). However, a significant reduction in monocyte viability was also observed at 2% DMSO, suggesting a narrow window of efficacy. Anti-inflammatory concentrations of DMSO suppressed E. coli-induced ERK1/2, p38, JNK and Akt phosphorylation, suggesting DMSO acts on these signaling pathways to suppress inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production. Although DMSO induces the differentiation of B16/F10 melanoma cells in vitro, topical administration of DMSO to mice subcutaneously implanted with B16 melanoma cells was ineffective at reducing tumor growth, DMSO was also found to block mouse macrophages from polarizing to either an M1- or an M2-phenotype, which may contribute to its inability to slow tumor growth. Topical administration of DMSO, however, significantly mitigated K/BxN serum-induced arthritis in mice, and this was associated with reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the joints and white blood cell levels in the blood. Thus, while we cannot confirm the efficacy of DMSO as an anti-cancer agent, the use of DMSO in arthritis warrants further investigation to ascertain its therapeutic potential.