A growth chamber for chronic exposure of mammalian cells to H2S

Abstract

H2S is a redox-active signaling molecule that exerts an array of cellular and physiological effects. While intracellular H2S concentrations are estimated to be in the low nanomolar range, intestinal luminal concentrations can be significantly higher due to microbial metabolism. Studies assessing H2S effects are typically conducted with a bolus treatment with sulfide salts or slow releasing sulfide donors, which are limited by the volatility of H2S, and by potential off-target effects of the donor molecules. To address these limitations, we describe the design and performance of a mammalian cell culture incubator for sustained exposure to 20–500 ppm H2S (corresponding to a dissolved sulfide concentrations of ∼4–120 μM in the cell culture medium). We report that colorectal adenocarcinoma HT29 cells tolerate prolonged exposure to H2S with no effect on cell viability after 24 h although ≥50 ppm H2S (∼10 μM) restricts cell proliferation. Even the lowest concentration of H2S used in this study (i.e. ∼4 μM) significantly enhanced glucose consumption and lactate production, revealing a much lower threshold for impacting cellular energy metabolism and activating aerobic glycolysis than has been previously appreciated from studies with bolus H2S treatment regimens.