Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced neuronal apoptosis via the ROS-MST1 pathway

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has shown a neuroprotective role in several cerebrovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of H(2)S in early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: One hundred seventy-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were employed in this study. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of H(2)S, was injected intraperitoneally at 60 min after SAH was induced by endovascular perforation. Western blot analysis determined the expression of several proteins of interest, and an immunofluorescence assay was used to examine neuronal apoptosis. RESULTS: Exogenous NaHS markedly improved neurological scores, attenuated brain edema, and ameliorated neuronal apoptosis at 24 h after SAH induction. The underlying mechanisms of H(2)S in ameliorating neuronal apoptosis might be executed through inhibition of the activity of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) protein. Western blot analysis demonstrated that exogenous NaHS decreased cleaved MST1 (cl-MST1) while increasing full-length MST1 expression. This anti-apoptotic effect of H(2)S could be reversed by chelerythrine, which could activate MST1 via caspase-dependent cleavage. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous NaHS, as a donor of H(2)S, could ameliorate early brain injury after SAH by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis by reducing the activity of the MST1 protein.