The Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Different Parameters of Human Plasma in the Presence or Absence of Exogenous Reactive Oxygen Species.

The main aim of the study is to examine the effect of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), an H2S donor, on the oxidative stress in human plasma in vitro. It also examined the effects of very high concentrations of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on the hemostatic parameters (coagulation and fibrinolytic activity) of human plasma. Plasma was incubated for 5-30 min with different concentrations of NaHS from 0.01 to 10 mM. Following this, lipid peroxidation was measured as a thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentration and the oxidation of amino acid residues in proteins was measured by determining the amounts of thiol groups and carbonyl groups. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the hydroxyl radical generating oxidation system (Fe/H2O2) were used as oxidative stress inducers. Hemostatic factors, such as the maximum velocity of clot formation, fibrin lysis half-time, the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), and international normalized ratio (INR), were estimated. Changes in lipid peroxidation, carbonyl group formation, and thiol group oxidation were detected at high concentrations of H2S (0.1-10 mM), and these results indicate that NaHS (as the precursor of H2S) may have pro-oxidative effects in human plasma in vitro. Moreover, considering the data presented in this study, we suggest that the oxidative stress stimulated by NaHS (at high concentrations: 1-10 mM) is not involved in changes of the hemostatic activity of plasma.

Biochemistry and therapeutic potential of hydrogen sulfide - reality or fantasy?

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a signaling gasotransmitter, involved in different physiological and pathological processes. H2S regulates apoptosis, the cell cycle and oxidative stress. H2S exerts powerful effects on smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, inflammatory cells, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and nuclear transcription factors. H2S is known to be produced from L-cysteine, D-cysteine and L-homocysteine in the body. Four enzymes - cystathionine-b synthase (CBS), mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), cystathionine-γ lyase (CSE) and cysteine aminotransferase (CAT) - are involved in H2S synthesis. The biosynthetic pathway for the production of H2S from D-cysteine involves 3-MST and D-amino acid oxidase (DAO). The therapeutic potential of H2S is not clear. However, recently results have demonstrated that H2S has protective action for ischemic heart disease or hypertension, and protects against ischemia of the brain. This review summarizes the negative and the positive roles of H2S in various biological systems, for example the cardiovascular system and nervous system. We also discuss the function of classical, therapeutic and natural (for example garlic) donors of H2S in pre-clinical and clinical studies.