Hydrogen Sulfide Mediates Cardioprotection Through Nrf2 Signaling

Abstract

Rationale: The recent emergence of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) as a potent cardioprotective signaling molecule necessitates the elucidation of its cytoprotective mechanisms. Objective: The present study evaluated potential mechanisms of H₂S-mediated cardioprotection using an in vivo model of pharmacological preconditioning. Methods and Results: H₂S (100 μg/kg) or vehicle was administered to mice via an intravenous injection 24 hours before myocardial ischemia. Treated and untreated mice were then subjected to 45 minutes of myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion for up to 24 hours, during which time the extent of myocardial infarction was evaluated, circulating troponin I levels were measured, and the degree of oxidative stress was evaluated. In separate studies, myocardial tissue was collected from treated and untreated mice during the early (30 minutes and 2 hours) and late (24 hours) preconditioning periods to evaluate potential cellular targets of H₂S. Initial studies revealed that H₂S provided profound protection against ischemic injury as evidenced by significant decreases in infarct size, circulating troponin I levels, and oxidative stress. During the early preconditioning period, H₂S increased the nuclear localization of Nrf2, a transcription factor that regulates the gene expression of a number of antioxidants and increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase Cε and STAT-3. During the late preconditioning period, H₂S increased the expression of antioxidants (heme oxygenase-1 and thioredoxin 1), increased the expression of heat shock protein 90, heat shock protein 70, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and cyclooxygenase-2 and also inactivated the proapoptogen Bad. Conclusions: These results reveal that the cardioprotective effects of H₂S are mediated in large part by a combination of antioxidant and antiapoptotic signaling.