Recent Development of the Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Hydrogen Sulfide Gasotransmitter
Jianyun Liu,
Fikir M. Mesfin,
Chelsea E. Hunter,
Kenneth R. Olson,
W. Christopher Shelley,
John P. Brokaw,
Krishna Manohar,
Troy A. Markel
Affiliations
Jianyun Liu
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Fikir M. Mesfin
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Chelsea E. Hunter
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Kenneth R. Olson
Department of Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine—South Bend, South Bend, IN 46617, USA
W. Christopher Shelley
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
John P. Brokaw
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Krishna Manohar
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Troy A. Markel
Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Hydrogen sulfide has been recently identified as the third biological gasotransmitter, along with the more well studied nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Intensive studies on its potential as a therapeutic agent for cardiovascular, inflammatory, infectious and neuropathological diseases have been undertaken. Here we review the possible direct targets of H2S in mammals. H2S directly interacts with reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and is involved in redox signaling. H2S also reacts with hemeproteins and modulates metal-containing complexes. Once being oxidized, H2S can persulfidate proteins by adding -SSH to the amino acid cysteine. These direct modifications by H2S have significant impact on cell structure and many cellular functions, such as tight junctions, autophagy, apoptosis, vesicle trafficking, cell signaling, epigenetics and inflammasomes. Therefore, we conclude that H2S is involved in many important cellular and physiological processes. Compounds that donate H2S to biological systems can be developed as therapeutics for different diseases.
