Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;24 Suppl 2:173-82. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2011-110128.
For hundreds of years, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been known solely as a toxic gas with the smell of rotten eggs. Nevertheless, the notoriety of H2S as a toxic gas is experiencing a transformation, with an increasing amount of research showing that it regulates a range of physiological and pathological processes in mammals. Hence H2S is a physiologically important molecule and has been referred to as the third gaseous mediator alongside nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. This past decade has seen an exponential growth of scientific interest in the physiological and pathological significance of H2S. In particular, in the central nervous system, H2S facilitates long-term potentiation and regulates intracellular calcium concentration and pH level in brain cells. Interestingly, H2S may exert antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects which are related to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and vascular dementia. Meanwhile, abnormal generation and metabolism of H2S are involved in most of these neurodegenerative disorders. This review presents current knowledge of H2S and its neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative disorders, with a special emphasis on AD and PD. It is concluded that a H2S-modulated agent will be a new hope for neurodegenerative disorders including AD and PD.
数百年来，硫化氢 (H2S) 一直被认为是一种具有臭鸡蛋气味的有毒气体。然而，H2S 作为有毒气体的恶名正经历着转变，越来越多的研究表明它调节哺乳动物的一系列生理和病理过程。因此，H2S 是一种生理上重要的分子，被称为与一氧化氮和一氧化碳并列的第三种气态介质。过去十年，科学界对 H2S 的生理和病理意义产生了浓厚的兴趣。特别是在中枢神经系统中，H2S 促进长时程增强，并调节脑细胞内的钙浓度和 pH 值。有趣的是，H2S 可能发挥抗氧化、抗凋亡和抗炎作用，这些作用与阿尔茨海默病 (AD)、帕金森病 (PD) 和血管性痴呆等神经退行性疾病有关。同时，H2S 的异常产生和代谢参与了大多数这些神经退行性疾病。本文综述了 H2S 及其在神经退行性疾病中的神经保护作用的最新知识，特别强调了 AD 和 PD。结论是，H2S 调节剂将成为包括 AD 和 PD 在内的神经退行性疾病的新希望。
