Overview on hydrogen sulfide-mediated suppression of vascular calcification and hemoglobin/heme-mediated vascular damage in atherosclerosis
Tamás Gáll,
Péter Nagy,
Dorottya Garai,
László Potor,
György Jázon Balla,
György Balla,
József Balla
Affiliations
Tamás Gáll
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary; ELKH-UD Vascular Pathophysiology Research Group, 11003, University of Debrecen, Hungary; Kálmán Laki Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
Péter Nagy
Department of Molecular Immunology and Toxicology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Oncochemistry, University of Debrecen, Hungary
Dorottya Garai
Department of Molecular Immunology and Toxicology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
László Potor
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary; ELKH-UD Vascular Pathophysiology Research Group, 11003, University of Debrecen, Hungary; Kálmán Laki Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
György Jázon Balla
Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary
György Balla
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary; ELKH-UD Vascular Pathophysiology Research Group, 11003, University of Debrecen, Hungary; Kálmán Laki Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
József Balla
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Hungary; ELKH-UD Vascular Pathophysiology Research Group, 11003, University of Debrecen, Hungary; Kálmán Laki Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary; Corresponding author. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4012, Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Hungary.
Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques with hemorrhage considerably contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Calcification is the main characteristic of advanced atherosclerotic lesions and calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD). Lyses of red blood cells and hemoglobin (Hb) release occur in human hemorrhagic complicated lesions. During the interaction of cell-free Hb with plaque constituents, Hb is oxidized to ferric and ferryl states accompanied by oxidative changes of the globin moieties and heme release. Accumulation of both ferryl-Hb and metHb has been observed in atherosclerotic plaques. The oxidation hotspots in the globin chain are the cysteine and tyrosine amino acids associated with the generation of Hb dimers, tetramers and polymers. Moreover, fragmentation of Hb occurs leading to the formation of globin-derived peptides. A series of these pro-atherogenic cellular responses can be suppressed by hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Since H2S has been explored to exhibit a wide range of physiologic functions to maintain vascular homeostasis, it is not surprising that H2S may play beneficial effects in the progression of atherosclerosis. In the present review, we summarize the findings about the effects of H2S on atherosclerosis and CAVD with a special emphasis on the oxidation of Hb/heme in atherosclerotic plaque development and vascular calcification.
