Hydrogen Gas Protects Gut Stem Cells During Intestinal Blood Loss
- Authors
- Ryo Yamamoto, Sayuri Suzuki, Koichiro Homma, Shintaro Yamaguchi, Tomohisa Sujino, Junichi Sasaki
- Journal
- World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.4240/wjgs.v14.i12.1329
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Mesenteric Ischemia
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas helps protect the gut's repair cells and reduces cell damage from reduced blood flow and subsequent restoration in rats.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced intestinal stem cell death and oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) during simulated mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, with the protective effect concentrated where stem cells reside.
Summary
Researchers studied whether hydrogen gas could protect the intestines during a serious condition called mesenteric ischemia (when blood flow to the intestines is blocked). Using rats, they blocked blood flow to the intestines for an hour, then restored it while giving some rats hydrogen gas to breathe. They found that hydrogen gas reduced cell death in the intestinal lining, particularly in stem cells (special cells that help repair the intestines), and decreased harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species that damage tissue.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas may help protect intestinal stem cells during serious blood flow problems, which could potentially improve recovery after emergency intestinal surgery. However, this is early animal research—human studies are needed to determine if these benefits apply to patients and what dose or delivery method would be safe and effective.
Abstract
Background: Patients with mesenteric ischemia frequently suffer from bowel necrosis even after revascularization. Hydrogen gas has showed promising effects for ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing reactive oxygen species in various animal and clinical studies. We examined intestinal tissue injury by ischemia and reperfusion under continuous initiation of 3% hydrogen gas. Aim: To clarify the treatment effects and target cells of hydrogen gas for mesenteric ischemia. Methods: Three rat groups underwent 60-min mesenteric artery occlusion (ischemia), 60-min reperfusion following 60-min occlusion (reperfusion), or ischemia-reperfusion with the same duration under continuous 3% hydrogen gas inhalation (hydrogen). The distal ileum was harvested. Immunofluorescence staining with caspase-3 and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled 5 (LGR5), a specific marker of intestinal stem cell, was conducted to evaluate the injury location and cell types protected by hydrogen. mRNA expressions of LGR5, olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4), hairy and enhancer of split 1, Jagged 2, and Neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Tissue oxidative stress was analyzed with immunostaining for 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Systemic oxidative stress was evaluated by plasma 8-OHdG. Results: Ischemia damaged the epithelial layer at the tip of the villi, whereas reperfusion induced extensive apoptosis of the cells at the crypt base, which were identified as intestinal stem cells with double immunofluorescence stain. Hydrogen mitigated such apoptosis at the crypt base, and the LGR5 expression of the tissues was higher in the hydrogen group than in the reperfusion group. OLFM4 was also relatively higher in the hydrogen group, whereas other measured RNAs were comparable between the groups. 8-OHdG concentration was high in the reperfusion group, which was reduced by hydrogen, particularly at the crypt base. Serum 8-OHdG concentrations were relatively higher in both reperfusion and hydrogen groups without significance. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that hydrogen gas inhalation preserves intestinal stem cells and mitigates oxidative stress caused by mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion.