Hydrogen Sulfide as Potential Regulatory Gasotransmitter in Arthritic Diseases

The social and economic impact of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis, explains the growing interest of the research in this field. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the endogenous gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) were recently demonstrated in the context of different inflammatory diseases. In particular, H(2)S is able to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory mediations by lymphocytes and innate immunity cells. Considering these biological effects of H(2)S, a potential role in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), can be postulated. However, despite the growing interest in H(2)S, more evidence is needed to understand the pathophysiology and the potential of H(2)S as a therapeutic agent. Within this review, we provide an overview on H(2)S biological effects, on its role in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, on H(2)S releasing drugs, and on systems of tissue repair and regeneration that are currently under investigation for potential therapeutic applications in arthritic diseases.