Abstract
Since the 2007 discovery that molecular hydrogen (H2) has selective antioxidant properties, multiple studies have shown that H2 has beneficial effects in diverse animal models and human disease. This review discusses H2 biological effects and potential mechanisms of action in various diseases, including metabolic syndrome, organ injury, and cancer; describes effective H2 delivery approaches; and summarizes recent progress toward H2 applications in human medicine. We also discuss remaining questions in H2 therapy, and conclude with an appeal for a greater role for H2 in the prevention and treatment of human ailments that are currently major global health burdens. This review makes a case for supporting hydrogen medicine in human disease prevention and therapy.
Highlights
Oxidative stress in the cell results from the robust oxidizing potential of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) [1]
Acute oxidative stress may result from various conditions, such as vigorous exercise, inflammation, ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, surgical bleeding, and tissue transplantation [2,3,4]
H2 as a gaseous signal modulator in a therapeutic setting may involve a network of signaling molecules, and future research using various animal and cell models is needed to confirm the benefits of H2 in such settings
Summary
Oxidative stress in the cell results from the robust oxidizing potential of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) [1]. H2 administration induces expression of diverse genes, including NF-κB [36], c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) [37, 38], proliferation cell nuclear antigen [39], vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [40], glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) [41, 42], and creatine kinase [43]. Some of these molecules may be secondarily regulated by H2, and some may be direct H2 targets. H2 as a gaseous signal modulator in a therapeutic setting may involve a network of signaling molecules, and future research using various animal and cell models is needed to confirm the benefits of H2 in such settings
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