Synergisms, Discrepancies and Interactions between Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide in the Gastrointestinal and Digestive System Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

Endogenous gas transmitters, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) are important signaling molecules known to exert multiple biological functions. In recent years, the role of H(2)S, CO and NO in regulation of cardiovascular, neuronal and digestive systems physiology and pathophysiology has been emphasized. Possible link between these gaseous mediators and multiple diseases as well as potential therapeutic applications has attracted great attention from biomedical scientists working in many fields of biomedicine. Thus, various pharmacological tools with ability to release CO or H(2)S were developed and implemented in experimental animal in vivo and in vitro models of many disorders and preliminary human studies. This review was designed to review signaling functions, similarities, dissimilarities and a possible cross-talk between H(2)S and CO produced endogenously or released from chemical donors, with special emphasis on gastrointestinal digestive system pathologies prevention and treatment.