title: Hydrogen ameliorates pulmonary hypertension in rats by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves reactive oxygen species and inflammation. Beneficial effects of molecular hydrogen, which exerts both anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, have been reported for various pathologic conditions. We therefore hypothesized that molecular hydrogen would improve monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen male Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight: 200-300 g) were divided into groups, receiving: (1) MCT + hydrogen-saturated water (group H); (2) MCT + dehydrogenized water (group M); or (3) saline + dehydrogenized water (group C). Sixteen days after substance administration, we evaluated hemodynamics, harvested the lungs and heart, and performed morphometric analysis of the pulmonary vasculature. Macrophage infiltration, antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)-positive cells, and expressions of phosphorylated signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) were evaluated immunohistochemically. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressions were evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonary arterial hypertension was significantly exacerbated in group M compared to group C, but was significantly improved in group H. Vascular density was significantly reduced in group M, but not in group H. Adventitial macrophages, antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen - and 8-OHdG-positive cells, and stromal cell-derived factor-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressions were significantly increased in group M, but improved in group H. Expressions of phosphorylated STAT3 and NFAT were up-regulated in group M, but improved in group H.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Molecular hydrogen ameliorates MCT-induced PAH in rats by suppressing macrophage accumulation, reducing oxidative stress and modulating the STAT3/NFAT axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address: ktaichi@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiteru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukasawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Kinji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016686:Monocrotaline; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D066253:Vascular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494088:Stat3 protein, rat; D016686:Monocrotaline; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: NFAT; STAT3; molecular hydrogen; pulmonary arterial hypertension; reactive oxygen species