Vascular biology of hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a ubiquitous signaling molecule with important functions in many mammalian organs and systems. Observations in the 1990s ascribed physiological actions to H2S in the nervous system, proposing that this gasotransmitter acts as a neuromodulator. Soon after that, the vasodilating properties of H2S were demonstrated. In the past decade, H2S was shown to exert a multitude of physiological effects in the vessel wall. H2S is produced by vascular cells and exhibits antioxidant, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and vasoactive properties. In this concise review, we have focused on the impact of H2S on vascular structure and function with an emphasis on angiogenesis, vascular tone, vascular permeability and atherosclerosis. H2S reduces arterial blood pressure, limits atheromatous plaque formation, and promotes vascularization of ischemic tissues. Although the beneficial properties of H2S are well established, mechanistic insights into the molecular pathways implicated in disease prevention and treatment remain largely unexplored. Unraveling the targets and downstream effectors of H2S in the vessel wall in the context of disease will aid in translation of preclinical observations. In addition, acute regulation of H2S production is still poorly understood and additional work delineating the pathways regulating the enzymes that produce H2S will allow pharmacological manipulation of this pathway. As the field continues to grow, we expect that H2S-related compounds will find their way into clinical trials for diseases affecting the blood vessels.
Vascular Physiology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Nancy L
NL
Kanagy
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Csaba
C
Szabo
Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; and apapapet@pharm.uoa.gr.|Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Andreas
A
Papapetropoulos
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000069336:Neurovascular Coupling; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*
D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
blood vessels; endothelium; hydrogen sulfide; signaling; vascular smooth muscle