The mechanism of action and role of hydrogen sulfide in the control of vascular tone.

Our knowledge about hydrogen sulfide (HS) significantly changed over the last two decades. Today it is considered as not only a toxic gas but also as a gasotransmitter with diverse roles in different physiological and pathophysiological processes. HS has pleiotropic effects and its possible mechanisms of action involve (1) a reversible protein sulfhydration which can alter the function of the modified proteins similar to nitrosylation or phosphorylation; (2) direct antioxidant effects and (3) interaction with metalloproteins.

H2S preconditioning of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells increases their efficacy in an in vitro model of cell therapy for simulated ischemia.

Aims: A major limitation of cell-based therapies for ischemia-reperfusion injury is the excessive loss of administered cells. We investigated whether H2S can improve the survival and efficacy of therapeutic cells in an in vitro model of cell-based therapy for simulated ischemia.

Main Methods: H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation and NaHS (3-30 μM) pretreated human adipose tissue derived stem cells (hASCs) were added after reoxygenization.