Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide in Axes Between Gut and Other Organs.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), a ubiquitous small gaseous signaling molecule, plays a critical role in various diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) reducing inflammation, inhibiting oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. Uncontrolled inflammation is closely related to pathological process of ischemic stroke, RA, MI, and IBD. Solid evidence has revealed the axes between gut and other organs like joint, brain, and heart, and indicated that HS-mediated anti-inflammatory effect against IBD, RA, MI, and ischemic stroke might be related to regulating the functions of axes between gut and other organs. We reviewed endogenous HS biogenesis and the HS-releasing donors, and revealed the anti-inflammatory effects of HS in IBD, ischemic stroke, RA, and MI. Importantly, this review outlined the potential role of HS in the gut-joint axis, gut-brain axis, and gut-heart axis as a gasotransmitter. The rate, location, and timing of HS release from its donors determine its potential success or failure as a useful therapeutic agent and should be focused on in the future research. Therefore, there is still a need to explore internal and external sources monitoring and controlling HS concentration. Moreover, more efficient HS-releasing compounds are needed; a better understanding of their chemistry and properties should be further developed. 42, 341-360.