An Update on Hydrogen Sulfide and Nitric Oxide Interactions in the Cardiovascular System

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO) are now recognized as important regulators in the cardiovascular system, although they were historically considered as toxic gases. As gaseous transmitters, H2S and NO share a wide range of physical properties and physiological functions: they penetrate into the membrane freely; they are endogenously produced by special enzymes, they stimulate endothelial cell angiogenesis, they regulate vascular tone, they protect against heart injury, and they regulate target protein activity via posttranslational modification. Growing evidence has determined that these two gases are not independent regulators but have substantial overlapping pathophysiological functions and signaling transduction pathways. H2S and NO not only affect each other's biosynthesis but also produce novel species through chemical interaction. They play a regulatory role in the cardiovascular system involving similar signaling mechanisms or molecular targets. However, the natural precise mechanism of the interactions between H2S and NO remains unclear. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of individual and interactive regulatory functions of H2S and NO in biosynthesis, angiogenesis, vascular one, cardioprotection, and posttranslational modification, indicating the importance of their cross-talk in the cardiovascular system.

Role of Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardiovascular Diseases: The Link Between Inflammation and Hydrogen Sulfide

“…Due to the importance of H 2 S and NO in cardiovascular disease, the interactive regulatory functions of H 2 S and NO in endothelial dysfunction-associated cardiovascular disease may be a very attractive subject. In other words, the biological interactions of H 2 S with NO could influence each other's fate in the endothelium as described previously (Wang et al, 2015b;Nagpure and Bian, 2016;Wu and Hu, 2018) (Figure 2).…”

Hydrogen Sulfide in Pharmacotherapy, Beyond the Hydrogen Sulfide-Donors

“…Namely, the activation of the channel by persulfidation of the sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) Cys 6 and Cys 26 subunit [101,102]. Several studies confirm that the H 2 S-related vasodilation is associated with the promotion of NO synthesis (Cys 433 eNOS persulfidation) and/or NO signalling (reviewed in [103]). For instance, the H 2 S/NO interaction product nitrosopersulfide mediates vasodilation and increases levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) [73].…”

Supplementing preservation solution with mitochondria-targeted H2S donor AP39 protects cardiac grafts from prolonged cold ischemia–reperfusion injury in heart transplantation

“…Emerging evidence has shown that H 2 S plays a prominent role in cellular signaling, including regulating cell apoptosis, mitochondrial functions, and inflammatory responses . H 2 S is effective in reducing myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury (MIRI), suggesting that H 2 S‐ and H 2 S‐releasing compounds have the potential to prevent MIRI in HTx.…”