Physiological role of hydrogen sulfide in the kidney and its therapeutic implications for kidney diseases.

For over three centuries, hydrogen sulfide (HS) has been known as a toxic and deadly gas at high concentrations, with a distinctive smell of rotten eggs. However, studies over the past two decades have shown that HS has risen above its historically notorious label and has now received significant scientific attention as an endogenously produced gaseous signaling molecule that participates in cellular homeostasis and influences a myriad of physiological and pathological processes at low concentrations. Its endogenous production is enzymatically regulated, and when dysregulated, contributes to pathogenesis of renal diseases. In addition, exogenous HS administration has been reported to exhibit important therapeutic characteristics that target multiple molecular pathways in common renal pathologies in which reduced levels of renal and plasma HS were observed. This review highlights functional anatomy of the kidney and renal production of HS. The review also discusses current understanding of HS in renal physiology and seeks to lay the foundation as a new targeted therapeutic agent for renal pathologies such as hypertensive nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease and water balance disorders.

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