Gassing hypertension
U.S. and Canadian researchers have shown that an endogenous gas, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), can function as an endothelial cell-derived relaxing factor that regulates blood pressure.1 The finding reveals potential new intervention points in hypertension, although open questions include which H2S-synthesizing enzyme to target, how to specifically affect it and whether direct delivery of H2S would be an option. In addition, balancing the potential toxicity of H2S with its therapeutic benefits will remain a key challenge.
Under normal physiological conditions, H2S is produced endogenously by two enzymes responsible for metabolizing l-cysteine: cystathionase (cystathionine g-lyase) (CTH) and cystathionine b-synthase (CBS). In a paper in Science, researchers at Lakehead University,...