Low Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in the Blood of Diabetes Patients and Streptozotocin-Treated Rats Causes Vascular Inflammation?

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is emerging as a physiological neuromodulator as well as a smooth muscle relaxant. We submit the first evidence that blood H(2)S levels are significantly lower in fasting blood obtained from type 2 diabetes patients compared with age-matched healthy subjects, and in streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats compared with control Sprague-Dawley rats. We further observed that supplementation with H(2)S or an endogenous precursor of H(2)S (l-cysteine) in culture medium prevents IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion in high-glucose-treated human U937 monocytes. These first observations led to the hypothesis that lower blood H(2)S levels may contribute to the vascular inflammation seen in diabetes.

Vitamin D Up-regulates Glucose Transporter 4 (GLUT4) Translocation and Glucose Utilization Mediated by Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) Activation and H2S Formation in 3T3L1 Adipocytes

“…Several studies demonstrate that H 2 S is an antioxidant that regenerates GSH and lowers oxidative stress (5)(6)(7)11). Our recent study reported that supplementation with H 2 S increases glucose utilization and decreases secretion of the proinflammatory biomarkers IL-8 and MCP-1 in adipocyte and monocyte cell models (11,19). These studies demonstrate that malfunctioning H 2 S homeostasis can contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular inflammation and impaired glucose metabolism.…”

Hydrogen Sulfide Inhibits High Glucose-induced Matrix Protein Synthesis by Activating AMP-activated Protein Kinase in Renal Epithelial Cells

“…The prediction would be that hydrogen sulfide generation is reduced in the kidney in diabetes. Previous studies have shown that plasma hydrogen sulfide level is lower in human subjects with type 2 diabetes (48,49) and in end stage kidney disease patients on hemodialysis (50). Relevant to diabetic kidney disease, hydrogen sulfide levels in the kidney are reduced in a chemical model of type 1 diabetes in the rat (8).…”

Exogenous hydrogen sulfide protects H9c2 cardiac cells against high glucose-induced injury by inhibiting the activities of the p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 pathways

“…Changes in H 2 S levels in diabetes have attracted attention. There is clear evidence that circulating levels of H 2 S are reduced in animal models of diabetes (24,(35)(36)(37). Notably, lower circulating H 2 S levels have been measured in plasma samples obtained from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (35,38).…”