Dimethylglycine, a Methionine Metabolite, Participates in the Suppressive Effect of Methionine on 1-Fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene-Induced Dermatitis

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 46; no. 7; pp. 946 - 954
• Main Authors: Koga, Takayuki, Inoue, Kie, Hirayama, Fuka, Hiromura, Makoto, Fujii, Kiyonaga, Ishii, Yuji, Hirao-Suzuki, Masayo, Takeda, Shuso, Toda, Akihisa, Soeda, Fumio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.07.2023; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Allergens; allergic contact dermatitis; Amino acids; Animal models; Animals; Atopic dermatitis; betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase; Betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase; Contact dermatitis; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - drug therapy; Dimethylglycine; Dinitrobenzene; Dinitrofluorobenzene; Dinitrofluorobenzene - toxicity; Eczema; Homocysteine; Liver; Methionine; Methyltransferase; Mice; Racemethionine; Skin diseases; betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase; allergic contact dermatitis; methionine; dimethylglycine
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b23-00098

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common skin disorder caused by contact with allergens. The optimal treatment for ACD is to avoid contact with allergens. However, in some cases, avoiding exposure is not possible when the allergens are unknown. Therefore, establishing treatment methods other than allergen avoidance is important. We previously reported that the continuous administration of methionine, an essential amino acid, in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis alleviated its symptoms. In the present study, we investigated the effect of methionine on a mouse model of ACD caused by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB). Differences in the effect of methionine were observed in DNFB-induced ACD model mice based on the mouse strain used. This difference was attributed to the suppression of hepatic dimethylglycine (DMG) production, which is associated with the suppression of hepatic betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (Bhmt) expression by ACD. Although we did not reveal the mechanism underlying DMG suppression, our study suggests the presence of interactions between the liver and skin in dermatitis, such as the regulation of hepatic metabolic enzyme expression in dermatitis and the alleviation of dermatitis symptoms by the hepatic metabolism status of DMG.