Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuated Sepsis-Induced Myocardial Dysfunction Through TLR4 Pathway and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Aims: We examined the change in endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) production and its role in sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD). Results: Significant elevations in plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase (CK), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were noted in SIMD patients, whereas left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), and plasma H(2)S were significantly decreased relative to those in the controls. Plasma H(2)S was linearly related to LVEF and LVFS. Subsequently, an SIMD model was developed in mice by injecting lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and NaHS, an H(2)S donor, was used to elucidate the pathophysiological role of H(2)S. The mice showed decreased ventricular function and increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, cTnI, and CK after LPS injections. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 protein and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) proteins were over expressed in the SIMD mice. All of the parameters above showed more noticeable variations in cystathionine γ-lyase knockout mice relative to those in wild type mice. The administration of NaHS could improve ventricular function and attenuate inflammation and ERS in the heart. Conclusion: Overall, these findings indicated that endogenous H(2)S deficiency contributed to SIMD and exogenous H(2)S ameliorated sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction by suppressing inflammation and ERS via inhibition of the TLR4 pathway.