The H2S Donor NaHS Changes the Expression Pattern of H2S-Producing Enzymes after Myocardial Infarction

Abstract EN

Aims.

To examine the expression patterns of hydrogen sulphide- (H2S-) producing enzymes in ischaemic heart tissue and plasma levels of H2S after 2 weeks of NaHS treatment after myocardial infarction (MI) and to clarify the role of endogenous H2S in the MI process.

Results.

After MI surgery, 2 weeks of treatment with the H2S donor NaHS alleviated ischaemic injury.

Meanwhile, in ischemia myocardium, three H2S-producing enzymes, cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) significantly increased.

Plasma H2S levels were also elevated.

In vitro, NaHS treatment protected cardiomyocytes from hypoxic injury and raised CBS levels in a concentration-dependent manner.

Different from in vivo results, however, CSE or 3-MST expression did not change.

NaHS treatment increased the activity of CSE/CBS but not of 3-MST.

When CSE was either knocked down (in vitro) or knocked out (in vivo), H2S levels significantly decreased, which subsequently exacerbated the ischaemic injury.

Meanwhile, the expressions of CBS and 3-MST increased due to compensation.

Conclusions.

Exogenous H2S treatment changed the expressions of three H2S-producing enzymes and H2S levels after MI, suggesting a new and indirect regulatory mechanism for H2S production and its contribution to cardiac protection.

Endogenous H2S plays an important role in protecting ischaemic tissue after MI.