title: Use of Hydrogen as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy Against Photoreceptor Degeneration in Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients.
abstract: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by progressive photoreceptor apoptosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as critical initiators of the photoreceptor apoptosis in RP. Photoreceptor survival in RP mutants will not only require the inhibition of effectors of apoptotic machinery, but also the elimination of the initiating upstream signals, such as ROS. These cytotoxic ROS should be neutralized by the antioxidant defense system, otherwise they would interact with the macromolecules essential for photoreceptor survival. Hydrogen is a promising gaseous agent that has come to the forefront of therapeutic research over the last few years. It has been verified that hydrogen is capable of neutralizing the cytotoxic ROS selectively, rectifying abnormities in the apoptotic cascades, and attenuating the related inflammatory response. Hydrogen is so mild that it does not disturb the metabolic oxidation-reduction reactions or disrupt the physiologic ROS involved in cell signaling. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that hydrogen might be an effective therapeutic agent to slow or prevent photoreceptor degeneration in RP retinas. It is a logical step to test hydrogen for therapeutic use in multiple RP animal models, and ultimately in human RP patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Liqiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Lab of PLA, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yi Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second People's Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Ji xue
authors.initials: Jx
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen