Elevated H2S Research Articles

L-Cysteine promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells via the CBS/H2S pathway

Growing evidence has suggested that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a novel neuro-modulator and neuroprotective agent; however, it remains to be investigated whether H2S has a direct effect on neural stem cells (NSCs). We report here that NSCs expressed cystathionine β synthase (CBS) and addition of exogenous H2S donor, l-cysteine, stimulated proliferation and increased the differentiation potential of NSCs to neurons and astroglia. Moreover, pre-treatment with aminooxyacetic acid, the inhibitor of CBS or knockdown of CBS in using siRNA, significantly attenuated the effects of l-cysteine on elevated H2S levels and the cell proliferation; it also effectively suppressed l-cysteine-induced neurogenesis and astrocytogenesis. Further analysis revealed that l-cysteine-induced proliferation was associated with phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and differentiation with altered expression of differentiation-related genes. Taken together, the present data suggest that l-cysteine can enhance proliferation and differentiation of NSCs via the CBS/H2S pathway, which may serve as a useful inference for elucidating its role in regulating the fate of NSCs in physiological and pathological settings.

TSR versus non-TSR processes and their impact on gas geochemistry and carbon stable isotopes in Carboniferous, Permian and Lower Triassic marine carbonate gas reservoirs in the Eastern Sichuan Basin, China

The Palaeozoic and lowermost Mesozoic marine carbonate reservoirs of the Sichuan Basin in China contain variably sour and very dry gas. The source of the gas in the Carboniferous, Permian and Lower Triassic reservoirs is not known for certain and it has proved difficult to discriminate and differentiate the effects of thermal cracking- and TSR-related processes for these gases. Sixty-three gas samples were collected and analysed for their composition and carbon stable isotope values. The gases are all typically very dry (alkane gases being >97.5% methane), with low (<1%) nitrogen and highly variable H2S and CO2. Carboniferous gas is negligibly sour while the Lower Triassic gas tends to be most sour. The elevated H2S (up to 62%) is due to thermochemical sulphate reduction with the most sour Triassic and Permian reservoirs being deeper than 4800m. The non-TSR affected Carboniferous gas is a secondary gas that was derived from the cracking of sapropelic kerogen-derived oil and primary gas and is highly mature. Carboniferous (and non-sour Triassic and Permian) gas has unusual carbon isotopes with methane and propane being isotopically heavier than ethane (a reversal of typical low- to moderate-maturity patterns). The gas in the non-sour Triassic and Permian reservoirs has the same geochemical and isotopic characteristics (and therefore the same source) as the Carboniferous gas. TSR in the deepest Triassic reservoirs altered the gas composition reaching 100% dryness in the deepest, most sour reservoirs showing that ethane and propane react faster than methane during TSR. Ethane evolves to heavier carbon isotope values than methane during TSR leading to removal of the reversed alkane gas isotope trend found in the Carboniferous and non-sour Triassic and Permian reservoirs. However, methane was directly involved in TSR as shown by the progressive increase in its carbon isotope ratio as gas souring proceeded. CO2 increased in concentration as gas souring proceeded, but typical CO2 carbon isotope ratios in sour gases remained about −4‰ V-PDB showing that it was not solely derived from the oxidation of alkanes. Instead CO2 may partly result from reaction of sour gas with carbonate reservoir minerals, such as Fe-rich dolomite or calcite, resulting in pyrite growth as well as CO2-generation.

Cyanide-Treated Fe(III) Porphyrins as an Electrocatalytic Material for Selective H2S Oxidation

Electrodeposited Fe(III) meso-Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin with cyanide ligands coordinated to the central iron ion is being investigated as a possible material capable of selectively oxidizing H2S in the presence of CO and NO in physiologically relevant solutions. Preliminary results suggest this to be a very attractive material as it oxidizes H2S at low potentials while exhibiting minimal activity towards both CO and NO. However certain results suggest that the Fe may not be completely coordinated with cyanide ligands. This may explain the limitations of the material at elevated H2S concentrations and imperfect selectivity over the interfering gases. Additionally, a cathodic-post run treatment is suggested in order to maintain the electrochemical activity of the porphyrin-modified electrode surface by stripping any S0 that deposits on the electrode surface during the H2S oxidation.

Impact of Fermentation Rate Changes on Potential Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations in Wine

The correlation between alcoholic fermentation rate, measured as carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution, and the rate of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) formation during wine production was investigated. Both rates and the resulting concentration peaks in fermentor headspace H2S were directly impacted by yeast assimilable nitrogenous compounds in the grape juice. A series of model fermentations was conducted in temperature-controlled and stirred fermentors using a complex model juice with defined concentrations of ammonium ions and/or amino acids. The fermentation rate was measured indirectly by noting the weight loss of the fermentor; H2S was quantitatively trapped in realtime using a pre-calibrated H2S detection tube which was inserted into a fermentor gas relief port. Evolution rates for CO2 and H2S as well as the relative ratios between them were calculated. These fermentations confirmed that total sulfide formation was strongly yeast strain-dependent, and high concentrations of yeast assimilable nitrogen did not necessarily protect against elevated H2S formation. High initial concentrations of ammonium ions via addition of diammonium phosphate (DAP) caused a higher evolution of H2S when compared with a non-supplemented but nondeficient juice. It was observed that the excess availability of a certain yeast assimilable amino acid, arginine, could result in a more sustained CO2 production rate throughout the wine fermentation. The contribution of yeast assimilable amino acids from conventional commercial yeast foods to lowering of the H2S formation was marginal.

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic contributions to colonic hydrogen sulfide synthesis

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is an important modulator of many aspects of digestive function, both in health and disease. Colonic tissue H(2)S synthesis increases markedly during injury and inflammation and appears to contribute to resolution. Some of the bacteria residing in the colon can also produce H(2)S. The extent to which bacterial H(2)S synthesis contributes to what is measured as colonic H(2)S synthesis is not clear. Using conventional and germ-free mice, we have delineated the eukaryotic vs. prokaryotic contributions to colonic H(2)S synthesis, both in healthy and colitic mice. Colonic tissue H(2)S production is entirely dependent on the presence of the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (vitamin B(6)), while bacterial H(2)S synthesis appears to occur independent of this cofactor. As expected, approximately one-half of the H(2)S produced by feces is derived from eukaryotic cells. While colonic H(2)S synthesis is markedly increased when the tissue is inflamed, and, in proportion to the extent of inflammation, fecal H(2)S synthesis does not change and tissue granulocytes do not appear to be the source of the elevated H(2)S production. Rats fed a B vitamin-deficient diet for 6 wk exhibited significantly diminished colonic H(2)S synthesis, but fecal H(2)S synthesis was not different from that of rats on the control diet. Our results demonstrate that H(2)S production by colonic bacteria does not contribute significantly to what is measured as colonic tissue H(2)S production, using the acetate trapping assay system employed in this study.

Understanding mechanisms for the end-Permian mass extinction and the protracted Early Triassic aftermath and recovery

Modern study of the end-Permian mass extinction in the marine realm has involved intensive documentation of the fossil content, sedimentology, and chemostratigraphy of individual stratigraphic sections where the mass extinction interval is well preserved. These studies, coupled with innovative modeling of environmental conditions, have produced specific hypotheses for the mechanisms that caused the mass extinction and associated environmental stress. New paleobiological studies on the environmental distribution and ecological importance of brachiopods, benthic molluscs, and bryozoans support the hypothesis that stressful ocean conditions—primarily elevated H2S levels (euxinia) but also heightened CO2 concentrations—were the prime causes of the end-Permian mass extinction. These studies also further demonstrate that both the Late Permian interval preceding this mass extinction and the Early Triassic interval that followed were times of similar elevated environmental stress. In the low-diversity Early Triassic biosphere, huge numbers of benthic molluscs, in particular four cosmopolitan genera of bivalves, typically covered the seafloor. That a few marine genera thrived during this time indicates a greater than usual tolerance to some combination of marine anoxia, as well as elevated CO2 and/or increased H2S concentrations. Research focusing on experiments with modern organisms similar to those that died, as well as those that thrived, in microcosms where levels of O2, CO2, and H2S can be experimentally manipulated will enable an even more detailed understanding of the nature of this greatest Phanerozoic biotic crisis.

Industrial Sources Influence Air Concentrations of Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfur Dioxide in Rural Areas of Western Canada

A survey of monthly average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at rural locations in western Canada (provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan) was conducted in 2001-2002, as part of an epidemiological study of the effects of oil and gas industry emissions on the health of cattle. Repeated measurements were obtained at some months and locations. We aimed to develop statistical models of the effect of oil and gas infrastructure on air concentrations. The regulatory authorities supplied the information on location of the different oil and gas facilities during the study period and, for Alberta, provided data on H2S content of wells and flaring volumes. Linear mixed effects models were used to relate observed concentrations to proximity and type of oil and gas infrastructure. Low concentrations were recorded; the monthly geometric mean was 0.1-0.2 ppb for H2S, and 0.3-1.3 ppb for SO2. Substantial variability between repeated measurements was observed. The precision of the measurement method was 0.005 ppb for both contaminants. There were seasonal trends in the concentrations, but the spatial variability was greater. This was explained, in part, by proximity to oil/gas/bitumen wells and (for SO2) gas plants. Wells within 2 km of monitoring stations had the greatest impact on measured concentrations. For H2S, 8% of between-location variability was explained by proximity to industrial sources of emissions; for SO2 this proportion was 18%. In Alberta, proximity to sour gas wells and flares was associated with elevated H2S concentrations; however, the estimate of the effect of sour gas wells in the immediate vicinity of monitoring stations was unstable. Our study was unable to control for all possible sources of the contaminants. However, the results suggest that oil and gas extraction activities contribute to air pollution in rural areas of western Canada.

Hydrogen sulfide and its possible roles in myocardial ischemia in experimental rats

The role of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in myocardial infarction (MI) has not been previously studied. We therefore investigated the effect of H(2)S in a rat model of MI in vivo. Animals were randomly divided into three groups (n = 80) and received either vehicle, 14 micromol/kg of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), or 50 mg/kg propargylglycine (PAG) everyday for 1 wk before surgery, and the treatment was continued for a further 2 days after MI when the animals were killed. The mortality was 35% in vehicle-treated, 40% in PAG-treated, and 27.5% in NaHS-treated (P < 0.05 vs. vehicle) groups. Infarct size was 52.9 +/- 3.5% in vehicle-treated, 62.9 +/- 7.6% in PAG-treated, and 43.4 +/- 2.8% in NaHS-treated (P < 0.05 vs. vehicle) groups. Plasma H(2)S concentration was significantly increased after MI (59.2 +/- 7.16 microM) compared with the baseline concentration (i.e., 38.2 +/- 2.07 microM before MI; P < 0.05). Elevated plasma H(2)S after MI was abolished by treatment of animals with PAG (39.2 +/- 5.02 microM). We further showed for the first time cystathionine-gamma-lyase protein localization in the myocardium of the infarct area by using immunohistochemical staining. In the hypoxic vascular smooth muscle cells, we found that cell death was increased under the stimuli of hypoxia but that the increased cell death was attenuated by the pretreatment of NaHS (71 +/- 1.2% cell viability in hypoxic vehicle vs. 95 +/- 2.3% in nonhypoxic control; P < 0.05). In conclusion, endogenous H(2)S was cardioprotective in the rat model of MI. PAG reduced endogenous H(2)S production after MI by inhibiting cystathionine-gamma-lyase. The results suggest that H(2)S might provide a novel approach to the treatment of MI.

Preservation of hatchery waste by lactic acid fermentation. 1. Laboratory scale fermentation

In Experiment 1, two types of hatchery wastes, including cockerel chicks (CC), and shell waste (SW) blended with CC (60:40 CC:SW), were ground and mixed with a by-product carbohydrate (5, 10, and 15% wt/wt) with or without a bacterial culture and fermented for a period of 21 d. Cockerel chicks fermented with 15% carbohydrate and the culture had a pleasant smell and little H2S production. Elevated H2S concentrations were recorded for CC:SW samples at all carbohydrate levels when the culture was not added. No NH3 was detected from any treatments during fermentation. The addition of culture to the CC and CC:SW by-products resulted in pH values lower (P < 0.05) than those without culture on Day 21, and the 15% carbohydrate treatment significantly reduced pH beyond the 5% carbohydrate. Final proximate composition of CC and CC:SW samples with culture were not significantly different from those without culture added. In Experiment 2, carbohydrate was added at 10.0, 13.3, 16.7, and 20.0% wt/wt to CC and CC:SW in the presence of the bacterial culture. Shell waste alone was fermented with 15, 20, and 25% carbohydrate and the culture. Moisture level in this experiment was adjusted to approximately 70% for all treatments. The lowest pH for the CC and CC:SW treatments was observed at the 16.7% carbohydrate level. Shell waste pH was better maintained at the 20 and 25% carbohydrate levels. After fermentation for 21 d CC, CC:SW and SW treatments from Experiments 1 and 2 contained negligible Escherichia coli, and no Salmonella were detected.

In Vivo Indicators of Pathologic Ruminal Sulfide Production in Steers with Diet-Induced Polioencephalomalacia

Two groups of 3 120-160-kg Holstein steers were fed a diet high in carbohydrate and low in long fiber and either with or without added sodium sulfate. Prior to and during the course of feeding the experimental diet, the concentrations of rumen hydrogen sulfide gas and rumen fluid sulfide were determined by a simple sulfide detector tube method and by sulfide-selective electrode, respectively. Other measurements included rumen fluid pH, blood creatine kinase, and blood sulfhemoglobin. Two of the 3 steers fed the high-sulfate diet developed signs and lesions of polioencephalomalacia. Clinical signs included episodic ataxia and blunted or absent menace reaction. Increased ruminal H2S gas concentrations occurred in all 3 steers consuming the diet with added sulfate. The onset of clinical signs coincided with the onset of elevated H2S concentrations. These increases were 40-60 times the values measured in the steers consuming the diet without added sulfate. In contrast, increases in rumen fluid sulfide concentrations usually rose to 4 times that of control steers. The steers fed an identical diet but without added sulfate exhibited no signs or lesions of polioencephalomalacia and no elevations of sulfide in rumen gas or fluid. All steers had a modest decrease in rumen fluid pH associated with the transition to the concentrate diet. No significant changes were observed in any of the blood measurements of any of the steers. An additional pair of steers was fed the experimental diet with or without added sulfate to compare the ruminal H2S gas concentrations estimated by H2S detector tubes with those estimated by a different method of analysis utilizing charcoal trapping of H2S, conversion to sulfate, and measurement of the sulfate. Both methods yielded comparable estimates of H2S concentration. Overall, these data indicate that changes in rumen gas cap H2S concentrations are larger than changes in rumen fluid sulfide concentration and the estimation of rumen gas cap H2S concentration may be a practical approach to detecting pathologic increases in ruminal H2S gas. This simple, rapid, minimally invasive method should be useful for estimating the H2S content of ruminal gas under field conditions.

Effect of volatile thiol compounds on protein metabolism by human gingival fibroblasts.

The levels of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) in periodontal pockets and mouth air have been found to correlate with severity of the disease process. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of hydrogen sulphide and methyl mercaptan on protein metabolism of human gingival fibroblasts. The incorporation of labelled amino acids into protein was used to evaluate effects on total protein content. Changes in collagenous protein concentration were monitored by release of radioactivity following collagenase digestion as well as direct analysis of hydroxyproline. Both thiols were found to reduce total protein synthesis, with mercaptan exerting a greater adverse effect. In cultures exposed to mercaptan, total protein was reduced by 35%. The changes in total protein were accompanied by a corresponding decrease in collagenase-digestible protein. Hydroxyproline analysis of CH3SH-exposed cultures confirmed the changes associated with collagenous proteins. It indicated that in comparison to the controls the CH3SH-exposed cultures had a 70% reduction in collagen which resulted from a combined effect of suppressed synthesis and increased rate of collagen degradation. The possibility of thiol reaction with collagen was determined using in vitro systems in which type I collagen was reacted with varying concentrations of [35S]-H2S. The carboxymethyl (CM) cellulose assays of resulting reaction mixtures indicate that [35S]-radioactivity was incorporated directly into alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 11, beta 12 peptide chains. Furthermore, upon exposure of collagen to elevated H2S concentrations, the H2S converted some of the acid-soluble collagen to a more soluble product which could be extracted in neutral salt and analyzed by CM-cellulose chromatography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship of soil hydrogen sulfide level to net carbon assimilation ofPanicum hemitomon andSpartina patens

Panicum hemitomon Schult andSpartina patens (Ait) Muhl. plants from Louisiana Gulf Coast fresh and brackish marshes were subjected to hydrogen sulfide under controlled sediment redox conditions. Net carbon assimilation responses of both species to the combined sediment anaerobiosis and hydrogen sulfide concentrations was measured.Panicum hemitomon was more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide as compared toSpartina patens. Initiation of reduction in net carbon assimilation inP. hemitomon began when H2S concentrations of soil solution exceeded 0.22 mgl-1. Reductions in net carbon assimilation inS. patens were also noted at H2S concentrations exceeding 0.34 mgl-1. The reduction in net carbon assimilation of both species measured at elevated H2S concentrations suggests that extreme anaerobiosis and elevated sulfide could contribute to the growth reduction of these species under certain conditions. However based on H2S concentration in fresh and brackish marsh soil profiles, levels were too low to cause any adverse effects ofPanicum hemitomon. In brackish marsh soils containing hydrogen sulfide of 3.4 mgl-1 in soil solution, sulfide could be a major factor limiting growth ofS. patens.