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Review
. 2016 Sep 27;8(10):2264-2289.
doi: 10.18632/aging.101026.

The role of hydrogen sulfide in aging and age-related pathologies

Bernard W Perridon  1 , Henri G D Leuvenink  2 , Jan-Luuk Hillebrands  1 , Harry van Goor  1 , Eelke M Bos  1   3
Affiliations
Review

The role of hydrogen sulfide in aging and age-related pathologies

Bernard W Perridon et al. Aging (Albany NY). .

Abstract

When humans grow older, they experience inevitable and progressive loss of physiological function, ultimately leading to death. Research on aging largely focuses on the identification of mechanisms involved in the aging process. Several proposed aging theories were recently combined as the 'hallmarks of aging'. These hallmarks describe (patho-)physiological processes that together, when disrupted, determine the aging phenotype. Sustaining evidence shows a potential role for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the regulation of aging. Nowadays, H2S is acknowledged as an endogenously produced signaling molecule with various (patho-) physiological effects. H2S is involved in several diseases including pathologies related to aging. In this review, the known, assumed and hypothetical effects of hydrogen sulfide on the aging process will be discussed by reviewing its actions on the hallmarks of aging and on several age-related pathologies.

Keywords: H2S; aging; gasotransmitters; hallmarks of aging; hydrogen sulfide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Overview of the Hallmarks of Aging and their functional interactions
The proposed nine hallmarks of aging are categorized based on common characteristics and their contribution to aging. Left panel: The primary hallmarks of aging are the hallmarks regarded as the primary cause of cellular damage. Middle panel: The antagonistic hallmarks of aging are those hallmarks considered to be part of compensatory or antagonistic responses to damage. These hallmarks initially mitigate the damage, but eventually can become deleterious themselves. Right panel: The integrative hallmarks of aging are the end result of the two previously described categories and are ultimately responsible for the functional decline associated with aging. The interactions between the categories are indicated at the top of the panels.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Overview of the endogenous and exogenous H2S production in the mammalian body
Left panel: The endogenous production of H2S in mammalian cells. Several important enzymes are mentioned along the arrows. Right panel: The exogenous production of H2S in the gastrointestinal tract by the intestinal microbiota and sulfate-reducing bacteria, for which the H2S production is endogenous. The dashed lines between the left and the right panel indicate the transport of molecules between the compartments.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Overview of the effects of physiological levels of H2S on the Hallmarks of Aging
Hydrogen sulfide affects at least one pathway involved in almost all hallmarks of aging. A direct effect of H2S on pathways involved in telomere attrition was not shown, however the effects of H2S on genome stability might also be beneficial for telomere maintenance, by protecting the integrity of the genome. This is indicated by the interrupted line between H2S and telomere attrition. Physiological levels of H2S were shown to prevent the dysregulation of the pathways associated with aging.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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