Hydrogen sulfide, a potential novel drug, attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis

Abstract

Background

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is known to exert anti-inflammatory properties. Apoptosis and autophagy play important roles in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute hepatitis. The purpose of this study was to explore both the effect and mechanism of H₂S on Con A-induced acute hepatitis.

Methods

BALB/c mice were randomized into sham group, Con A-injection group, and 14 μmol/kg of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an H₂S donor) pretreatment group.

Results

Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and pathological damage were significantly ameliorated by NaHS pretreatment. NaHS pretreatment significantly reduced the levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α compared with those of the Con A group. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Beclin-1, and LC3-2, which play important roles in the apoptosis and autophagy pathways, were also clearly affected by NaHS. Furthermore, NaHS affected the p-mTOR and p-AKT.

Conclusion

H₂S attenuates Con A-induced acute hepatitis by inhibiting apoptosis and autophagy, in part, through activation of the PtdIns3K-AKT1 signaling pathway.

Keywords:

• NaHS
• apoptosis
• PtdIns3K-AKT
• autophagy

Acknowledgments

We thank all members of the Central Laboratory of the Tenth Hospital of Tongji University. This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (ID: 81270515), the Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (ID: 2011287, 2012107), and the Liver Diseases Study Fund of China Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control (ID: WBN20100021, CFHPC20131011).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.