Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been demonstrated to have physiological roles such as neuromodulation, vascular tone regulation, cytoprotection, oxygen sensing, inflammatory regulation, and cell growth. Recently, hydrogen polysulfides (H2Sn) have been found to be produced by 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase and to regulate the activity of ion channels, tumor suppressers, and protein kinases. Furthermore, some of the effects previously reported to be mediated by H2S are now ascribed to H2Sn. Cysteine persulfide and cysteine polysulfide may also be involved in cellular redox regulation. The chemical interaction between H2S and nitric oxide (NO) can also produce H2Sn, nitroxyl, and nitrosopersulfide, suggesting their involvement in the reactions previously thought to be mediated by NO alone. This Forum focuses on and critically discusses the recent progress in the study of H2Sn, H2S, and NO as well as other per- or polysulfide species. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.
Keywords: 3MST; hydrogen sulfide; nitric oxide; polysulfides; signaling; thiol.