Anti‐inflammatory and antiviral roles of hydrogen sulfide: Rationale for considering H(2)S donors in COVID‐19 therapy

The COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐Cov‐2 demands rapid, safe and effective therapeutic options. In the last decades, the endogenous gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has emerged as modulator of several biological functions and its deficiency has been associated with different disorders. Therefore, many H(2)S‐releasing agents have been developed as potential therapeutic tools for diseases related with impaired H(2)S production and/or activity. Some of these compounds are in advanced clinical trials. Presently, the pivotal role of H(2)S in modulating the inflammatory response and pro‐inflammatory cytokine cascade is well recognized, and the usefulness of some H(2)S‐donors for the treatment of acute lung inflammation has been reported. Recent data is elucidating several mechanisms of action, which may account for antiviral effects of H(2)S. Noteworthy, some preliminary clinical results suggest an inverse relationship between endogenous H(2)S levels and severity of COVID‐19. Therefore, repurposing of H(2)S‐releasing drugs may be a potential therapeutic opportunity for treatment of COVID‐19. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on The Pharmacology of COVID‐19. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.21/issuetoc