Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) - the third gas of interest for pharmacologists.

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Lowicka E, Beltowski J

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) - the third gas of interest for pharmacologists.

Pharmacol Rep. 2007 Jan-Feb;59(1):4-24.

PubMed ID

17377202 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) synthesized from L-arginine by NO synthase and from heme by heme oxygenase, respectively, are the well-known neurotransmitters and are also involved in the regulation of vascular tone. Recent studies suggest that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is the third gaseous mediator in mammals. H(2)S is synthesized from L-cysteine by either cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) or cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE), both using pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (vitamin B(6)) as a cofactor. H(2)S stimulates ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) in the vascular smooth muscle cells, neurons, cardiomyocytes and pancreatic beta-cells. In addition, H(2)S may react with reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species limiting their toxic effects but also, attenuating their physiological functions, like nitric oxide does. In contrast to NO and CO, H(2)S does not stimulate soluble guanylate cyclase. H(2)S is involved in the regulation of vascular tone, myocardial contractility, neurotransmission, and insulin secretion. H(2)S deficiency was observed in various animal models of arterial and pulmonary hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, gastric mucosal injury and liver cirrhosis. Exogenous H(2)S ameliorates myocardial dysfunction associated with the ischemia/reperfusion injury and reduces the damage of gastric mucosa induced by anti-inflammatory drugs. On the other hand, excessive production of H(2)S may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, septic shock, cerebral stroke and mental retardation in patients with Down syndrome, and reduction of its production may be of potential therapeutic value in these states.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Cysteine	Cystathionine beta-synthase	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Not Available	Details
Pyridoxal phosphate	Cystathionine gamma-lyase	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Cofactor	Details