Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a colorless gas smelling of rotten egg, has long been recognized as a toxic gas and environment pollutant. However, increasing evidence suggests that H2S acts as a novel gasotransmitter and plays important roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes in mammals. H2S is involved in many hepatic functions, including the regulation of oxidative stress, glucose and lipid metabolism, vasculature, mitochondrial function, differentiation, and circadian rhythm. In addition, H2S contributes to the pathogenesis and treatment of a number of liver diseases, such as hepatic fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatotoxicity, and acute liver failure. In this review, the biosynthesis and metabolism of H2S in the liver are summarized and the role and mechanism of H2S in liver health and disease are further discussed.
Highlights
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless and water-soluble gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten egg [1,2,3]
cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), CBS, and 3-Mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) have been detected in the liver, and they contribute to liver production of H2S to different extents [3, 12]
It should be noted that administration of 500 μM NaHS could increase Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation through the inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and the depletion of GSH in rat primary hepatocytes, which could lead to hepatotoxicity [33]
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless and water-soluble gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten egg [1,2,3]. H2S is produced from L-cysteine and L-homocysteine mainly by cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). Both CSE and CBS are cytosolic enzymes [5, 6]. The liver, the largest solid organ in the body, plays a key role in glucose and lipid metabolism, antioxidant defense, and xenobiotic metabolism [12,13,14]. CSE, CBS, and 3-MST have been detected in the liver, and they contribute to liver production of H2S to different extents [3, 12]. We highlight recent studies that provide new insight into the biosynthesis and metabolism of H2S in the liver and further discuss the role and mechanism of H2S in liver health and disease
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