Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
Department of Cardiology, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2020 Oct;76(4):389-396. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000882.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) was previously known as a harmful gas in air pollution. Recently, it was reported that SO2 can be endogenously generated in cardiovascular tissues. Many studies have revealed that endogenous SO2 has important physiological and pathophysiological significance and pharmacological potential. As a novel gasotransmitter, SO2 has important regulatory effects on the heart. It has a dose-dependent negative inotropic effect on cardiac function, in which L-type calcium channels are involved. SO2 can also attenuate myocardial injury caused by various harmful stimuli and play an important role in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and myocardial hypertrophy. These effects are thought to be linked to its ability to reduce inflammation and as an antioxidant. In addition, SO2 regulates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy. Therefore, endogenous SO2 plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular system homeostasis. In the present review, the literature concerning the metabolism of endogenous SO2, its cardiac toxicological effects and physiological regulatory effects, mechanisms for SO2-mediated myocardial protection and its pharmacological applications are summarized and discussed.
二氧化硫（SO2）曾被认为是空气中的有害气体。最近有报道称，SO2 可以在内皮细胞组织中内源性产生。许多研究表明，内源性 SO2 具有重要的生理和病理生理意义以及药物开发潜力。作为一种新型的气体信号分子，SO2 对心脏具有重要的调节作用。它对心脏功能具有剂量依赖性的负性肌力作用，其中涉及 L 型钙通道。SO2 还可以减轻各种有害刺激引起的心肌损伤，并在心梗缺血再灌注损伤和心肌肥厚中发挥重要作用。这些作用可能与其抗炎和抗氧化能力有关。此外，SO2 还调节心肌细胞凋亡和自噬。因此，内源性 SO2 在心脑血管系统稳态维持中发挥着重要作用。本综述总结并讨论了内源性 SO2 的代谢、心脏毒性作用和生理调节作用、SO2 介导的心肌保护机制及其药理学应用的相关文献。
