title: A critical review of pharmacological significance of Hydrogen Sulfide in hypertension.
abstract: In the family of gas transmitters, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is yet not adequately researched. Known for its rotten egg smell and adverse effects on the brain, lungs, and kidneys for more than 300 years, the vasorelaxant effects of H2S on blood vessel was first observed in 1997. Since then, research continued to explore the possible therapeutic effects of H2S in hypertension, inflammation, pancreatitis, different types of shock, diabetes, and heart failure. However, a considerable amount of efforts are yet needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effects of H2S, such as nitric oxide-dependent or independent vasodilation in hypertension and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. More than a decade of good repute among researchers, H2S research has certain results that need to be clarified or reevaluated. H2S produces its response by multiple modes of action, such as opening the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and calcium channel blockade. H2S is endogenously produced from two sulfur-containing amino acids L-cysteine and L-methionine by the two enzymes cystathionine γ lyase and cystathionine β synthase. Recently, the third enzyme, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase, along with cysteine aminotransferase, which is similar to aspartate aminotransferase, has been found to produce H2S in the brain. The H2S has interested researchers, and a great deal of information is being generated every year. This review aims to provide an update on the developments in the research of H2S in hypertension amid the ambiguity in defining the exact role of H2S in hypertension because of insufficient number of research results on this area. This critical review on the role of H2S in hypertension will clarify the gray areas and highlight its future prospects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ashfaq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Munavvar A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hassaan A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Safia Akhtar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lazhari
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sheryar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afzal
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Johns
mesh_terms: D064426:Gasotransmitters / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D064426:Gasotransmitters; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: 3-3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase; cystathionine β synthase; cystathionine γ lyase; cysteine aminotransferase; hydrogen sulfide; hypertension