Abstract
Simple SummaryProtons (H+) and molecular hydrogen (H2) in the cell are critical in a wide variety of processes. New cancer treatment uses H2, a biologically inactive gas. H2 can rapidly penetrate cell membranes and reach subcellular components to protect nuclear DNA and mitochondria. H2 reduces oxidative stress, exerts anti-inflammatory effects, and acts as a modulator of apoptosis. Exogenous H2 is a protective therapy that can be used in cancer. Cyclotrons and synchrotrons are currently used to produce protons. Proton beam radiotherapy (PBT) offers great promise for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. H2 and different types of H2 donors may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment.Understanding the structure and dynamics of the various hydrogen forms has been a subject of numerous studies. Protons (H+) and molecular hydrogen (H2) in the cell are critical in a wide variety of processes. A new cancer treatment uses H2, a biologically inactive gas. Due to its small molecular weight, H2 can rapidly penetrate cell membranes and reach subcellular components to protect nuclear DNA and mitochondria. H2 reduces oxidative stress, exerts anti-inflammatory effects, and acts as a modulator of apoptosis. Exogenous H2, administered by inhalation, drinking H2-rich water, or injecting H2-rich saline solution, is a protective therapy that can be used in multiple diseases, including cancer. In particle therapy, cyclotrons and synchrotrons are the accelerators currently used to produce protons. Proton beam radiotherapy (PBT) offers great promise for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers due to the sharp decrease in the dose of radiation at a defined point. In these conditions, H2 and different types of H2 donors may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment.
Highlights
Oxidation and reduction are ubiquitous reactions that play key roles in the chemistry of aerobic organisms
This review describes the role of H2 and H+ in relation to Oxidative stress (OS) and outlines the potential anticancer activity of this endogenous ion and different types of H2 donors
Cells maintain pH. Cells intracellular (pHi) within a narrow range (7.1–7.2), and the physiof proton dynamics associated with a regional hypoxia and increased glycolysis inducing ological pH of arterial blood is maintained at precisely 7.40
Summary
Oxidation and reduction are ubiquitous reactions that play key roles in the chemistry of aerobic organisms. Disturbances in the cellular redox balance have been related to pro-aging mechanisms and an increased risk of diseases such as cancers. A shift in the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants is known as “oxidative stress”. The dysregulation of cellular pH is a well-known characteristic of malignancy. Both hydrogen transport and cytoplasmic pH play critical roles in the management of cell growth and proliferation, and tumorigenesis. H2 has been studied in preclinical and clinical trials on various diseases associated with oxidative and inflammatory stress. In this context, there has been much interest in H2 and H+ as possible therapeutic approaches in cancer. This review describes the role of H2 and H+ in relation to OS and outlines the potential anticancer activity of this endogenous ion and different types of H2 donors
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