Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Airway dysfunction leading to chronic lung disease is a common consequence of premature birth and mechanisms responsible for early and progressive airway remodeling are not completely understood. Current therapeutic options are only partially effective in reducing the burden of neonatal airway disease and premature decline of lung function. Gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has been recently recognized for its therapeutic potential in lung diseases. AREAS COVERED: Contradictory to its well-known toxicity at high concentrations, H(2)S has been characterized to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties at physiological concentrations. In the respiratory system, endogenous H(2)S production participates in late lung development and exogenous H(2)S administration has a protective role in a variety of diseases such as acute lung injury and chronic pulmonary hypertension and fibrosis. Literature searches performed using NCBI PubMed without publication date limitations were used to construct this review, which highlights the dichotomous role of H(2)S in the lung, and explores its promising beneficial effects in lung diseases. EXPERT OPINION: The emerging role of H(2)S in pathways involved in chronic lung disease of prematurity along with its recent use in animal models of BPD highlight H(2)S as a potential novel candidate in protecting lung function following preterm birth.