Antioxidant Properties of Hydrogen Gas Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Airway Epithelial Cells

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of airway diseases. Recently, hydrogen (H(2)) gas has been explored for its antioxidant properties. This study investigated the role of H(2) gas in oxidative stress-induced alveolar and bronchial airway injury, where A549 and NCI-H292 cells were stimulated with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. Results show that time-dependent administration of 2% H(2) gas recovered the cells from oxidative stress. Various indicators including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase), intracellular calcium, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were examined to analyze the redox profile. The viability of A549 and NCI-H292 cells and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were reduced following induction by H(2)O(2) and LPS but were later recovered using H(2) gas. Additionally, the levels of oxidative stress markers, including ROS and NO, were elevated upon induction but were attenuated after treatment with H(2) gas. Furthermore, H(2) gas suppressed oxidative stress-induced MAPK activation and maintained calcium homeostasis. This study suggests that H(2) gas can rescue airway epithelial cells from H(2)O(2) and LPS-induced oxidative stress and may be a potential intervention for airway diseases.