Hydrogen sulfide and dermatological diseases

Abstract

Skin diseases constitute a major health problem affecting a high proportion of the population every day and have different aetiologies that include inflammation, infections, and tumours. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous signalling molecule recognized as a gasotransmitter together with NO and carbon monoxide. Under physiological conditions, H2S is produced in the skin by enzymic pathways and plays a physiological role in a variety of functions, such as vasodilatation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation. Alterations of H2S production are implicated in a variety of dermatological diseases, such as psoriasis, melanoma, and other dermatoses. On the other hand, H2S‐releasing‐based therapies based on H2S donor compounds are being developed to treat some of these situations. In this review, we provide an up‐to‐date overview of the role of H2S in the normal skin and its clinical and pathological significance, as well as the therapeutic potential of different H2S donors for treatment of skin diseases. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on Hydrogen Sulfide in Biology & Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.4/issuetoc

Hydrogen Sulfide-Evoked Intracellular Ca2+ Signals in Primary Cultures of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cells

“…A similar U-shaped dose-response relationship has been described for NaHS-evoked intracellular Ca 2+ signals in the native endothelium of rat aorta [ 62 ] and EA.hy926 cells, while a bell-shaped pattern has been reported in breast tumor-derived endothelial cells (B-TECs) [ 7 ]. The peculiar U-shaped pattern of the dose-response relationship that H 2 S exhibits in several cellular models has been attributed to the wide array of signaling pathways recruited by this gasotransmitter [ 72 , 73 ]. It should also be noticed that H 2 S may differently affect the Ca 2+ handling machinery even within the same cell type [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Hyperhomocysteinemia and Cardiovascular Disease: Is the Adenosinergic System the Missing Link?

“…The action of H 2 S protects immune cells from various deleterious effects, such as oxidative stress (ROS production) or inflammatory runaway. The exogenous administration of H 2 S donors exerted anti-inflammatory effects in various local and systemic inflammatory diseases, such as brain disease, neoplastic disease of the colon, inflammatory disease joints, kidneys, cardiovascular, ophthalmic and dermatological diseases [ 67 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 ]. Paradoxically, a given H 2 S donor may have beneficial effects on the immune system but undesirable effects on the vascular system and vice versa.…”

Hydrogen Sulfide in Pharmacotherapy, Beyond the Hydrogen Sulfide-Donors

“…A bell-shaped model characterizes the cellular effects of H 2 S. At lower concentrations, H 2 S promotes cell survival, whereas higher H 2 S concentrations can lead to cell death. The cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of H 2 S are associated with faster dermal wound healing, mucosal defense and ulcer healing in the gastrointestinal system (reviewed in [129,130]). An improved clinical severity index of psoriasis was shown after the topical administration of H 2 S donor [131].…”