Hydrogen Sulfide: A Therapeutic Candidate for Fibrotic Disease?

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2015:2015:458720. doi: 10.1155/2015/458720. Epub 2015 May 11.

Abstract

Fibrotic diseases including chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic disease account for 45% mortality in the developed countries and pose a great threat to the global health. Many great targets and molecules have been reported to be involved in the initiation and/or progression of fibrosis, among which inflammation and oxidative stress are well-recognized modulation targets. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the third gasotransmitter with potent properties in inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress in various organs. Recent evidence suggests that plasma H2S level is decreased in various animal models of fibrotic diseases and supplement of exogenous H2S is able to ameliorate fibrosis in the kidney, lung, liver, and heart. This leads us to propose that modulation of H2S production may represent a promising therapeutic venue for the treatment of a variety of fibrotic diseases. Here, we summarize and discuss the current data on the role and underlying mechanisms of H2S in fibrosis diseases related to heart, liver, kidney, and other organs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antifibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / therapeutic use*
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy*
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / metabolism
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / pathology
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Antifibrinolytic Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Hydrogen Sulfide