Hydrogen Gas May Reduce Inflammation in Septic Mice
Hydrogen gas inhibits high-mobility group box 1 release in septic mice by upregulation of heme oxygenase 1
Research hubs: Respiratory System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Yuan Li, Keliang Xie, Hongguang Chen, Guolin Wang, Yong-Hao Yu
- Journal
- Journal of Surgical Research
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 25818978
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% H2 inhaled for 1 h beginning at 1 and 6 h after CLP
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 40 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas helps mice survive severe lung infection by reducing inflammation and activating protective proteins.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas therapy improved survival and reduced lung injury in septic mice by suppressing the release of an inflammatory molecule (HMGB1) through activation of a protective protein pathway (Nrf2/HO-1).
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen gas could help mice with sepsis (a life-threatening whole-body infection response). Researchers gave septic mice hydrogen gas to breathe and found it improved survival rates and reduced lung damage. The protective effect appeared to work by activating a protein called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which reduced levels of an inflammatory molecule called HMGB1 that contributes to tissue damage.
Practical Takeaway
While this mouse study suggests hydrogen gas may have potential in treating sepsis-related lung injury, it is an early-stage animal study and does not directly demonstrate effects in humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any therapeutic claims could be made for sepsis treatment.
Abstract (excerpt)
Sepsis is a potentially fatal whole-body inflammation caused by severe infection. Hydrogen gas (H2) is effective for treating sepsis. In this study, we hypothesized that the protective function of H2 in mice with septic lung injury occurred through the activation of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1)…