The potential role of hydrogen sulfide in cancer cell apoptosis

Abstract

For a long time, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been considered a toxic compound, but recent studies have found that H₂S is the third gaseous signaling molecule which plays a vital role in physiological and pathological conditions. Currently, a large number of studies have shown that H₂S mediates apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways to participate in cancer occurrence and development, for example, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, the regulation of the production and metabolism of H₂S to mediate the apoptotic process of cancer cells may improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment. In this review, the role and mechanism of H₂S in cancer cell apoptosis in mammals are summarized.