Role of hydrogen sulfide in portal hypertension and esophagogastric junction vascular disease

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 1079 - 1087
• Main Author: Wang, Chao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited 28.01.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Apoptosis; B-cell; Brief; Case-Control Studies; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Esophagogastric Junction - blood supply; Esophagogastric Junction - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hydrogen Sulfide - blood; hypertension; Hypertension, Portal - blood; Hypertension, Portal - parasitology; Hypertension, Portal - pathology; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental - metabolism; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental - parasitology; lymphoma-2; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - metabolism; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - pathology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - pathology; Portal; Portal Vein - metabolism; Portal Vein - pathology; Rabbits; Schistosomiasis - complications; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Hydrogen sulfide; Cystathionine γ-lyase; B-cell lymphoma-XL; Portal hypertension; B-cell lymphoma-2; pERK 1/2; Apoptosis
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i4.1079
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840

AIM:To investigate the association between endogenous hydrogen sulfide(H2S)and portal hypertension as well as its effect on vascular smooth muscle cells.METHODS:Portal hypertension patients were categorized by Child-Pugh score based on bilirubin and albumin levels,prothrombin time,ascites and hepatic encephalopathy.Plasma H2S concentrations and portal vein diameters(PVDs)were compared between portal hypertension patients and control participants,as well as between portal hypertension patients with varying degrees of severity.In addition,we established a rabbit hepatic schistosomiasis portal hypertension(SPH)model and analyzed liver morphology,fibrosis grade,plasma and liver tissue H2S concentrations,as well as cystathionineγ-lyase(CSE)activity and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(pERK)1/2,B cell lymphoma(Bcl)-2 and Bcl-XL expression in portal vein smooth muscle cells,in addition to their H2S-induced apoptosis rates.RESULTS:In portal hypertension patients,endogenous H2S levels were significantly lower than those in healthy controls.The more severe the disease was,the lower were the H2S plasma levels,which were inversely correlated with PVD and Child-Pugh score.Liver tissue H2S concentrations and CSE expression were significantly lower in the SPH rabbit livers compared with the control animals,starting at 3 wk,whereas pERK 1/2expressions gradually increased 12-20 wk after SPH model establishment.In portal vein smooth muscle cells,increasing H2S levels led to increased apoptosis,while Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression decreased.CONCLUSION:H2S prevents vascular restructuring caused by excessive proliferation of smooth muscle cells via apoptosis induction,which helps to maintain normal vascular structures.