Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibits phagocyte influx into infected pleural spaces and phagocyte locomotion in vitro.

Influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes (MNs) into pleural spaces was decreased in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-treated rabbits infected intrapleurally with Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, pleural fluids contained S. aureus longer and marked pleural thickening with fibrosis occurred in DMSO-treated rabbits. DMSO also inhibited stimulated locomotion of PMN and MN in vitro, suggesting that the aforementioned responses in vivo may have occurred because of DMSO-mediated inhibition of the locomotion of PMN and MN.