title: Sulfur dioxide acts as a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sulfur dioxide was considered to be toxic and detrimental to human health. However, this review highlights recent advances that suggest sulfur dioxide might be a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data used in this review were mainly from the studies reported in Medline and PubMed published from 1986 to 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to exogenous and endogenous sulfur dioxide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is endogenously generated in the cardiovascular system, and sulfur dioxide shows broad bioactive effects, such as antihypertension, vasodilation, and amelioration of vascular remodeling. A disturbed sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, athrosclerosis, spontaneous hypertension and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, in experimental studies the prognosis of these cardiovascular diseases can be improved by targeting endogenous sulfur dioxide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that sulfur dioxide is a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors: Shan-Shan
authors: SS
authors: Chen
authors: Chao-Shu
authors: CS
authors: Tang
authors: Hong-Fang
authors: HF
authors: Jin
authors: Jun-Bao
authors: JB
authors: DU
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013458:Sulfur Dioxide