The present study aimed to explore whether hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) improved hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) in rats by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group, normal+NaHS group, hypoxia group, and hypoxia+NaHS group, with 6 rats in each group. The control group rats were placed in a normoxic (21% O₂) environment and received daily intraperitoneal injections of an equal volume of normal saline. The normal+NaHS group rats were placed in a normoxic environment and intraperitoneally injected with 14 μmol/kg NaHS daily. The hypoxia group rats were placed in a hypoxia chamber, and the oxygen controller inside the chamber maintained the oxygen concentration at 9% to 10% by controlling the N₂ flow rate. An equal volume of normal saline was injected intraperitoneally every day. The hypoxia+NaHS group rats were also placed in an hypoxia chamber and intraperitoneally injected with 14 μmol/kg NaHS daily. After the completion of the four-week modeling, the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of each group was measured using right heart catheterization technique, and the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was weighed and calculated. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue, Masson staining was used to observe fibrosis of lung tissue, and Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels of hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), GSDMD-N-terminal domain (GSDMD-N), Caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in lung tissue. ELISA was used to detect contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in lung tissue. The results showed that, compared with the normal control group, there were no significant changes in all indexes in the normal+NaHS group, while the hypoxia group exhibited significantly increased mPAP and RVHI, thickened pulmonary vascular wall, narrowed lumen, increased collagen fibers, up-regulated expression levels of aerobic glycolysis-related proteins (HK2 and PKM2), up-regulated expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, GSDMD-N, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), and increased contents of IL-1β and IL-18. These changes of the above indexes in the hypoxia group were significantly reversed by NaHS. These results suggest that H₂S can improve rat HPH by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/metabolism* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Hydrogen Sulfide/therapeutic use* ; Hypoxia/complications* ; Rats ; Pyroptosis/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of H ₂S against lipid peroxidation-mediated carbonyl stress in the uranium-treated NRK-52E cells. METHODS: Cell viability was evaluated using CCK-8 assay. Apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry. Reagent kits were used to detect carbonyl stress markers malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and protein carbonylation. Aldehyde-protein adduct formation and alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, aldo-keto reductase, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) expression were determined using western blotting or real-time PCR. Sulforaphane (SFP) was used to activate Nrf2. RNA interference was used to inhibit CBS expression. RESULTS: GYY4137 (an H ₂S donor) pretreatment significantly reversed the uranium-induced increase in carbonyl stress markers and aldehyde-protein adducts. GYY4137 effectively restored the uranium-decreased Nrf2 expression, nuclear translocation, and ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic Nrf2, accompanied by a reversal of the uranium-decreased expression of CBS and aldehyde-metabolizing enzymes. The application of CBS siRNA efficiently abrogated the SFP-enhanced effects on the expression of CBS, Nrf2 activation, nuclear translocation, and ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic Nrf2 and concomitantly reversed the SFP-enhanced effects of the uranium-induced mRNA expression of aldehyde-metabolizing enzymes. Simultaneously, CBS siRNA reversed the SFP-mediated alleviation of the uranium-induced increase in reactive aldehyde levels, apoptosis rates, and uranium-induced cell viability. CONCLUSION H ₂S induces Nrf2 activation and nuclear translocation, which modulates the expression of aldehyde-metabolizing enzymes and the CBS/H ₂S axis. Simultaneously, the Nrf2-controlled CBS/H ₂S axis may at least partially promote Nrf2 activation and nuclear translocation. These events form a cycle-regulating mode through which H ₂S attenuates the carbonyl stress-mediated NRK-52E cytotoxicity triggered by uranium.
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics* ; Animals ; Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology* ; Rats ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects* ; Cell Line ; Uranium/toxicity* ; Antioxidant Response Elements ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects*

Vascular calcification is a common pathological process in patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, manifested by the deposition of hydroxyapatite on the walls of blood vessels. Hydrogen sulfide is the third gas signal molecule found in mammals after nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant stress and other effects in the cardiovascular system. In recent years, it has been recognized that hydrogen sulfide has an anti-vascular calcification effect, and supplementation with hydrogen sulfide and its donors can alleviate vascular calcification. In this review, we discussed the various evidence of the protective effect of hydrogen sulfide on vascular calcification, and highlighted the hydrogen sulfide metabolism changes and the potential regulatory mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide on the pathophysiological changes in vascular calcification.
Animals ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide/metabolism* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carbon Monoxide ; Antioxidants ; Nitric Oxide ; Mammals/metabolism*

Stomatal density is important for crop yield. In this paper, we studied the epidermal pattern factors (EPFs) related to stomatal development. Prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed to obtain EPFs. Then the relationship between EPFs and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was established. First, AtEPF1, AtEPF2 and AtEPFL9 were cloned and constructed to pET28a vectors. Then recombinant plasmids pET28a-AtEPF1, pET28a-AtEPF2 and pET28a-AtEPFL9 were digested and sequenced, showing successful construction. Finally, they were transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) separately and induced to express by isopropyl β-D-galactoside (IPTG). The optimized expression conditions including IPTG concentration (0.5, 0.3 and 0.05 mmol/L), temperature (28 °C, 28 °C and 16 °C) and induction time (16 h, 16 h and 20 h) were obtained. The bands of purified proteins were about 18 kDa, 19 kDa and 14.5 kDa, respectively. In order to identify their function, the purified AtEPF2 and AtEPFL9 were presented to Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Interestingly, the H2S production rate decreased or increased compared with the control, showing significant differences. That is, EPFs affected the production of endogenous H2S in plants. These results provide a foundation for further study of the relationship between H2S and EPFs on stomatal development, but also a possible way to increase the yield or enhance the stress resistance.
Arabidopsis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Arabidopsis Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Seedlings ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide on inflammatory factors and energy metabolism of mitochondria after limbs reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Sixty rats were divided into three groups:sham operation group,control group(ischemia-reperfusion injury + saline group),and experimental group(ischemia-reperfusion injury + HS group).Wistar rat models of limb ischemia-reperfusion injury were established.Skeletal muscle samples were collected to determine the levels of necrosis decomposition products [including myoglobin(MB),lipoprotein complex(LPC)and lipid peroxide(LPO)];blood samples were collected to determine the levels of interleukin(IL)-1,IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α);mitochondria were extracted for mitochondrial transmembrane potential measurement and ATP content detection.Statistical analysis was made on the test results. Results After ischemia reperfusion injury,the levels of MB,LPO,and LPC in skeletal muscle,liver,lung and renal tissues of the control group were significantly increased(MB:P =0.003,P =0.001,P =0.001,P =0.001;LPO:P =0.001,P =0.001,P =0.001,P =0.002;LPC:P =0.000,P =0.002,P =0.002,P =0.003),and hydrogen sulfide treatment during ischemia reperfusion significantly inhibited the production of MB,LPO,and LPC(MB:P =0.021,P =0.036,P =0.005;LPO:P =0.003,P =0.008,P =0.010,P =0.015;LPC:P =0.002,P =0.026,P =0.007,P =0.006).Ischemia/reperfusion of lower extremity in rats resulted in increased levels of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-α in the serum of rats,and the levels of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-increased over time,with statistically significant differences in IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-α among groups at 3 h(IL-1:P =0.019,P =0.011,P =0.009,$P_{12_{h}}$=0.008,and P =0.002;IL-6:P =0.026,P =0.009,P =0.002, $P_{12_{h}}$=0.002,P =0.003;TNF-α:P =0.002,P =0.002,P =0.005,$P_{12_{h}}$=0.002,P =0.003).The levels of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-α in serum were significantly inhibited during ischemia reperfusion(IL-1:P =0.035,P =0.039,P =0.012,$P_{12_{h}}$=0.005,P =0.006;IL-6:P =0.042,P =0.025,P =0.023,$P_{12_{h}}$=0.006,P =0.005;TNF-α:P =0.005,P =0.003,P =0.022,$P_{12_{h}}$=0.005,P =0.005),and such inhibitory effects became even more obvious over time.After limb ischemia and reperfusion in the control group,the mitochondrial transmembrane potential of skeletal muscle cells significantly decreased compared with that of the sham group(t=6.698;P=0.001).After hydrogen sulfide treatment,the mitochondrial membrane potential energy of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(t=7.507,P = 0.000).The ATP level in the mitochondria of ischemia reperfusion rats in the control group was significantly lower than that in the sham group(t=7.526,P = 0.000).The content of mitochondrial ATP in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group after hydrogen sulfide treatment(t=8.604,P = 0.000). Conclusions Hydrogen sulfide can alleviate the injury of skeletal muscle and distal organs after limb ischemia-reperfusion and reduce local inflammatory reaction.In addition,it is valuable in alleviating mitochondrial transmembrane potential and energy metabolism disorders during reperfusion injury.
Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothesis that hydrogen could ameliorate cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced lung injury of rats by inhibiting cystathionine-gamma-lyase/hydrogen sulfide (CSE/HS) system. METHODS: A total number of 24 healthy male SD rats weighting 250～300 g were randomly divided into four groups (n=6 in each group): sham operation group(sham group), hydrogen-rich saline control group(H group), CLP group and hydrogen-rich saline treatment group(CLP+H group). The rats were treated with hydrogen-rich saline or saline 10 min before CLP or sham operation. At 8 h of sham or CLP operation, lung samples were obtained to detect the changes of the CSE/HS system using biochemical and RT-PCR methods. In order to further confirm the role of HS during hydrogen improve the lung injury of CLP rats, we also observed the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on the lung injury induced by HS donor-sodium sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). Thirty-two healthy male SD rats (250~300 g) were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 in each group): control group, HS group, HS+H group and H group. Saline(10 mg/kg) or NaHS(HS donor, 56 μmol/kg) was injected intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg) respectively into rats in the control rats or HS group. For rats in the HS+H and H group, hydrogen-rich saline (10 mg/kg) was injected 10 min before saline or NaHS administration. Eight hours after the LPS saline or NaHS administration, lung coefficient, MDA content, and MPO activity were detected. The contents of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in lung tissue were measured, and the morphological changes of lung tissue were also observed. RESULTS: CSE/HS system up-regulating were observed in animals exposed to CLP. Hydrogen-rich saline treatment significantly inhibited CSE/HS system as indicated by significantly reduced HS production in lung, along with a decreased CSE activity and CSE mRNA expression (all P＜0.05). Importantly, the results showed that lung injury and lung tissue inflammation were observed in animals exposed to NaHS. Hydrogen-rich saline treatment significantly attenuated lung injury as indicated by significantly improved histological changes in lung, significantly reduced index of quantitative assessment (IQA), MDA content and lung coefficient (all P＜0.05). MPO activity in lung tissue was significantly reduced along with decreased productions of TNF-α and IL-6, and an increased production of IL-10 in the presence of hydrogen (all P＜0.05), demonstrating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of hydrogen in NaHS-induced ALI. CONCLUSION These results indicate that hydrogen-rich saline peritoneal injection improves the lung injury induced by CLP operation. The therapeutic effects of hydrogen-rich saline may be related to suppressing the production of HS.
Animals ; Cecum ; surgery ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Hydrogen ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Ligation ; Lung Injury ; therapy ; Male ; Punctures ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saline Solution ; pharmacology

BACKGROUND: The left internal thoracic artery (LITA) has been used as the first conduit of choice in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) because of excellent long-term patency and outcomes. However, no studies have examined substances other than nitric oxide that could be beneficial for the bypass conduit, native coronary artery or ischemic myocardium. This study was conducted to evaluate differences in metabolic profiles between the LITA and ascending aorta using gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS). METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent CABG using the LITA were prospectively enrolled. Plasma samples were collected simultaneously from the LITA and ascending aorta. GC-TOF-MS based untargeted metabolomic analyses were performed and a 2-step volcano plot analysis was used to identify distinguishable markers from two plasma metabolome profiles. Semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses were performed using GC-TOF-MS and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, after selecting target metabolites based on the metabolite set enrichment analysis. RESULTS: Initial volcano plot analysis demonstrated 5 possible markers among 851 peaks detected. The final analysis demonstrated that the L-cysteine peak was significantly higher in the LITA than in the ascending aorta (fold change = 1.86). The concentrations of intermediate metabolites such as L-cysteine, L-methionine and L-cystine in the ‘cysteine and methionine metabolism pathway' were significantly higher in the LITA than in the ascending aorta (2.0-, 1.4- and 1.2-fold, respectively). Quantitative analysis showed that the concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was significantly higher in the LITA. CONCLUSION: The plasma metabolome profiles of the LITA and ascending aorta were different, particularly higher plasma concentrations of L-cysteine and H2S in the LITA.
Aorta ; Chromatography, Gas ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels ; Cysteine ; Cystine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Mammary Arteries ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolism ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Methionine ; Myocardium ; Nitric Oxide ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Spectrum Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (HS) on the negatively regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and the relationship between the effect of HS with miRNA-133a-mediated Ca/calcineurin/NFATc4 signal pathway. METHODS: Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was induced by isoproterenol (ISO). The cell surface area was measured by image analysis system (Leica). The expression of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP), β-myosin heavy chain(β-MHC), cystathionase (CSE), miRNA-133a, calcineurin (CaN) were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein expressions of CaN、nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFATc4) were detected by Western blot. The concentration of HS in the cardiomyocyte was detected by Elisa. The concentration of intracellular calcium was measured by calcium imaging using confocal microscope. The nuclear translocation of NFATc4 was checked by immuno-fluorescence cell staining technique. RESULTS: ①The level of system of CSE/HS and expression of miRNA-133a were significantly reduced in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Pretreatment with NaHS increased the concentration of HS and the expression of miRNA-133a mRNA in cardiomyocytes, and suppressed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. ②The concentration of intracellular calcium, the expression of CaN and nulear protein NFATc4 were significantly increased, and the nuclear translocation of NFATc4 were obviously enhanced in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. NaHS pretreatment markedly inhibited these effects of ISO induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. ③Application of antagomir-133a reversed the inhibitory effects of NaHS on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and increased the influx of intracellular calcium, and elevated the expression of CaN and nuclear protein NFATc4, and enhanced the nuclear translocation of NFATc4. CONCLUSIONS HS can negatively regulate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The effects might be associated with HS increasing expression of miRNA-133a and inhibiting inactivation of Ca/calcineurin/NFATc4 signal pathway.
Animals ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction

The contractile and diastolic function of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is closely related to penile erection and erectile dysfunction (ED). In addition to nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), estrogen receptor (ER), P2Y receptor, perivascular tissue (PVT), and calcium activated potassium channel (Kca) are found to be involved in the relaxation of SMCs. This review updates the mechanisms of the relaxation of SMCs and its relationship with ED.
Carbon Monoxide ; physiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; physiology ; Receptors, Estrogen ; physiology ; Receptors, Purinergic P2Y ; physiology ; Sulfur Dioxide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) inhibits the high-glucose (HG)-induced injury by modulating leptin/leptin receptor (LEPR) signal pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSHUVECs were treated with 40 mmol/L glucose for 3-24 h, and the cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay. The changes of cell morphology and the number of apoptotic cells were assessed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined by Rhodamine 123 (Rh123) staining and photofluorography. The expression levels of leptin and LEPR protein were measured by Western blotting.

RESULTSs The expression of leptin and LERP in HUVECs began to significantly increase at 3 h after HG exposure and reached the peak levels at 9 h (P<0.01). Pretreatment of HUVECs with 400 µmol/L sodium hydrosulfide (H2S donor) for 30 min inhibited HG-induced increase in leptin and leptin receptor expressions in HUVECs (P<0.01). Pretreatment of HUVECs with 400 µmol/L NaHS for 30 min or 50 ng/mL leptin antagonists (LA) for 1 h obviously alleviated HG-induced injury by increasing cell viability, decreasing cell apoptosis and lowering accumulation of intracellular ROS and MMP loss (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONExogenous H2S protects against HG-induced injury by inhibiting leptin/LEPR pathway in HUVECs.

Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; adverse effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptors, Leptin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction