Hydrogen Sulfide: A Therapeutic Candidate for Fibrotic Disease?

Fibrotic diseases including chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic disease account for 45% mortality in the developed countries and pose a great threat to the global health. Many great targets and molecules have been reported to be involved in the initiation and/or progression of fibrosis, among which inflammation and oxidative stress are well-recognized modulation targets. Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is the third gasotransmitter with potent properties in inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress in various organs. Recent evidence suggests that plasma H(2)S level is decreased in various animal models of fibrotic diseases and supplement of exogenous H(2)S is able to ameliorate fibrosis in the kidney, lung, liver, and heart. This leads us to propose that modulation of H(2)S production may represent a promising therapeutic venue for the treatment of a variety of fibrotic diseases. Here, we summarize and discuss the current data on the role and underlying mechanisms of H(2)S in fibrosis diseases related to heart, liver, kidney, and other organs.