title: Garlic-derived natural polysulfanes as hydrogen sulfide donors: Friend or foe?
abstract: In vitro and in vivo studies reported the anti-cancer potential of organosulfur compounds (OSCs) as they trigger biological effects leading to cell cycle arrest with accumulation of cells in G2/M, alteration of the microtubular network, modulation of Bcl-2 family protein expression patterns and changes of the redox status. Despite these well-described effects, no OSC derivative is yet undergoing clinical trials even though their chemistry is well understood as OSCs act as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors. H2S is a biological mediator, synthesized through cysteine degradation and modulates vasodilation, cytoprotection, inflammation and angiogenesis. It is well accepted that H2S plays a biphasic pharmacological role: the inhibition of endogenous synthesis of H2S and paradoxically also the use of H2S donors to increase H2S concentration, induce both anti-cancer effects leading therefore to controversial discussions. Altogether, the role of H2S in the anti-cancer action of OSCs remains poorly understood. In this review, we hypothesize that OSCs act through H2S signaling pathways in cancer cells, and that a clearer understanding of the mechanism of action of H2S in OSC-mediated anti-cancer activity is required for further application of these compounds in translational medicine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hôpital Kirchberg, 9, rue Edward Steichen, 2540, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Esma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yagdi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hôpital Kirchberg, 9, rue Edward Steichen, 2540, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerella
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hôpital Kirchberg, 9, rue Edward Steichen, 2540, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dicato
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, South Korea. Electronic address: marcdiederich@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diederich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019610:Cytoprotection; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Anti-cancer; Biosynthesis; Cancer; Hydrogen sulfide; Organosulfur compounds