Hydrogen sulfide and vascular regulation - An update

Boyang Lv; Selena Chen; Chaoshu Tang; Hongfang Jin; Junbao Du; Yaqian Huang

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2020.05.007

Hydrogen sulfide and vascular regulation - An update

J Adv Res. 2020 May 16:27:85-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2020.05.007. eCollection 2021 Jan.

Authors

Boyang Lv¹, Selena Chen², Chaoshu Tang^{3

4}, Hongfang Jin¹, Junbao Du^{1

4}, Yaqian Huang¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
² Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.
³ Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences, Ministry of Education, China.

Abstract

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is considered to be the third gasotransmitter after carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO). It plays an important role in the regulation of vascular homeostasis. Vascular remodeling have has proved to be related to the impaired H₂S generation.

Aim of review: This study aimed to summarize and discuss current data about the function of H₂S in vascular physiology and pathophysiology as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Key scientific concepts of review: Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as a third gasotransmitter is primarily generated by the enzymatic pathways and regulated by several metabolic pathways. H₂S as a physiologic vascular regulator, inhibits proliferation, regulates its apoptosis and autophagy of vascular cells and controls the vascular tone. Accumulating evidence shows that the downregulation of H₂S pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of vascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. Alternatively, H₂S supplementation may greatly help to prevent the progression of the vascular diseases by regulating vascular tone, inhibiting vascular inflammation, protecting against oxidative stress and proliferation, and modulating vascular cell apoptosis, which has been verified in animal and cell experiments and even in the clinical investigation. Besides, H₂S system and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors play a vital role in alleviating ischemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Notably, sulfhydryl-containing ACEI inhibitor zofenopril is superior to other ACE inhibitors due to its capability of H₂S releasing, in addition to ACE inhibition. The design and application of novel H₂S donors have significant clinical implications in the treatment of vascular-related diseases. However, further research regarding the role of H₂S in vascular physiology and pathophysiology is required.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Blood vessels; Hydrogen sulfide; Hypertension; Pulmonary hypertension.

Publication types

Review