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A high concentration of DMSO activates caspase-1 by increasing the cell membrane permeability of potassium

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Abstract

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used in the laboratory and in clinical situations because it is soluble in both aqueous and organic media and can be used to treat many types of diseases. Thus, it is meaningful to assess the comprehensive and in-depth biological activities of DMSO. Here, we showed that a high concentration of DMSO induced pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion from the monocytic cell line THP-1. DMSO-induced IL-1β secretion was dependent on intracellular caspase-1 activation. Further study revealed that the activation of caspase-1 by DMSO relied on NLRP3 inflammasome formation. It is generally accepted that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by reactive oxygen species generation or potassium efflux; however, the common NLRP3 inflammasome trigger remains controversial. Here, we showed that although DMSO is a ROS scavenger, this chemical increases membrane permeability and potassium efflux, and the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome reflects the increased membrane permeability and potassium efflux induced by DMSO. The present study reveals a new characteristic of DMSO, which should be considered when using this chemical in either the laboratory or the clinic.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to Yang Xiang (91649120) and Sujiao Sun (81560697), Applied and basic research project of Yunnan Province (2014FB175) to Yang Xiang, and "Yunnan scholar" Program to Yun Zhang.

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  1. Yang Xiang, Ming-ming Zhao and Sujiao Sun these authors have contribute equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Aging Research Institute and School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

    Yang Xiang

  2. Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650223, China

    Yang Xiang, Ming-ming Zhao, Xiao-Long Guo, Qiquan Wang, Sheng-An Li, Wen-Hui Lee & Yun Zhang

  3. Medical Cosmetology Teaching and Research Section, Dali University School of Clinical Medicine, Jiashibo Road 32, Dali, Yunnan Province, 671000, China

    Sujiao Sun

  4. Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Ming-ming Zhao & Qiquan Wang

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  1. Yang Xiang
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Correspondence to Yang Xiang or Yun Zhang.

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Xiang, Y., Zhao, Mm., Sun, S. et al. A high concentration of DMSO activates caspase-1 by increasing the cell membrane permeability of potassium. Cytotechnology 70, 313–320 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-017-0145-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-017-0145-9

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