Article Text
PDF
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is found to be the third endogenous gaseous transmitter and plays an important role in many systems of organism. In cardiovascular system, H2S is produced endogenously by cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE). The CSE/H2S system executes the physiological function of vasorelaxation, inhibition of vascular remodelling and cardioprotection. It is also concerned with variety of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and pulmonary hypertension. These results suggest that H2S may be a novel cardiovascular functional regulator. And, at another hand, EPCs incorporate into the process of injured carotid reendothelialisation. EPCs transplantation induces an increase in the circulating EPCs, accelerates the process of endothelial repairmen and reduces neointima formation.
Objective To study whether hydrogen sulfide has effects on endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).
Methods Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation combined with adherence cells filtration were plated on fibronect in coated culture dishes. After 7 days, adherent cells were kept with different concentrations of hydrogen sulfide for 48 h. EPCs proliferation, migration ability and adhesion assay was performed: EPCs apoptosis was induced by paclitaxel or serum starvation for 48 h, apoptosis was determined by TUNEL method and flow cytometry.
Results Incubation of hydrogen sulfide dose dependently increased the number of EPCs (p<0101): hydrogen sulfide improved EPCs proliferation, migration and adhesive capacity (p<0.01), and hydrogen sulfide could protect EPCs from paclitaxel or serum starvation-induced apoptosis (p<0.01).
Conclusions Hydrogen sulfide can increase the number of bone marrow derived EPCs and improve their biological characteristics.