Abstract
In the past, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) was recognized as a toxic and dangerous gas; in recent years, with increased research, we have discovered that H(2)S can act as an endogenous regulatory transmitter. In mammals, H(2)S-catalyzing enzymes, such as cystathionine-β-synthase, cystathionine-γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, are differentially expressed in a variety of tissues and affect a variety of biological functions, such as transcriptional and posttranslational modification of genes, activation of signaling pathways in the cell, and metabolic processes in tissues, by producing H(2)S. Various preclinical studies have shown that H(2)S affects physiological and pathological processes in the body. However, a detailed systematic summary of these roles in health and disease is lacking. Therefore, this review provides a thorough overview of the physiological roles of H(2)S in different systems and the diseases associated with disorders of H(2)S metabolism, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Meanwhile, this paper also introduces H(2)S donors and novel release modes, as well as the latest preclinical experimental results, aiming to provide researchers with new ideas to discover new diagnostic targets and therapeutic options.