Role of hydrogen sulfide in dermatological diseases.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), together with carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), is recognized as a vital gasotransmitter. HS is biosynthesized by enzymatic pathways in the skin and exerts significant physiological effects on a variety of biological processes, such as apoptosis, modulation of inflammation, cellular proliferation, and regulation of vasodilation. As a major health problem, dermatological diseases affect a large proportion of the population every day. It is urgent to design and develop effective drugs to deal with dermatological diseases. Dermatological diseases can arise from a multitude of etiologies, including neoplastic growth, infectious agents, and inflammatory processes. The abnormal metabolism of HS is associated with many dermatological diseases, such as melanoma, fibrotic diseases, and psoriasis, suggesting its therapeutic potential in the treatment of these diseases. In addition, therapies based on HS donors are being developed to treat some of these conditions. In the review, we discuss recent advances in the function of HS in normal skin, the role of altering HS metabolism in dermatological diseases, and the therapeutic potential of diverse HS donors for the treatment of dermatological diseases.