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. 1979 Dec;64(6):1642–1651. doi: 10.1172/JCI109626

Generation of Hydroxyl Radical by Enzymes, Chemicals, and Human Phagocytes In Vitro

DETECTION WITH THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT, DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

John E Repine 1,2,3,4, John W Eaton 1,2,3,4, M W Anders 1,2,3,4, John R Hoidal 1,2,3,4, Richard B Fox 1,2,3,4
PMCID: PMC371318  PMID: 500830

Abstract

Methane (CH4) production from the anti-inflammatory agent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), was used to measure ·OH from chemical reactions or human phagocytes. Reactions producing ·OH (xanthine/xanthine oxidase or Fe++/EDTA/H2O2) generated CH4 from DMSO, whereas reactions yielding primarily O-2̇ or H2O2 failed to produce CH4. Neutrophils (PMN), monocytes, and alveolar macrophages also produced CH4 from DMSO. Mass spectroscopy using d6-DMSO showed formation of d3-CH4 indicating that CH4 was derived from DMSO. Methane generation by normal but not chronic granulomatous disease or heat-killed phagocytes increased after stimulation with opsonized zymosan particles or the chemical, phorbol myristate acetate. Methane production from DMSO increased as the number of stimulated PMN was increased and the kinetics of CH4 production approximated other metabolic activities of stimulated PMN. Methane production from stimulated phagocytes and DMSO was markedly decreased by purportedly potent ·OH scavengers (thiourea or tryptophane) and diminished to lesser degrees by weaker ·OH scavengers (mannitol, ethanol, or sodium benzoate). Superoxide dismutase or catalase also decreased CH4 production but urea, albumin, inactivated superoxide dismutase, or boiled catalase had no appreciable effect. The results suggest that the production of CH4 from DMSO may reflect release of ·OH from both chemical systems and phagocytic cells. Interaction of the nontoxic, highly permeable DMSO with ·OH may explain the anti-inflammatory actions of DMSO and provide a useful measurement of ·OH in vitro and in vivo.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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