Hydrogen Gas Therapy Reduces Inflammation in Septic Mice
Hydrogen Gas Therapy Attenuates Inflammatory Pathway Signaling in Septic Mice
Research hubs: Immune 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
- Hiroshi Matsuura, Hisatake Matsumoto, Daisuke Okuzaki, Kentaro Shimizu, Hiroshi Ogura, Takeshi Ebihara, Tsunehiro Matsubara, Shin-Ichi Hirano, Takeshi Shimazu
- Journal
- Journal of Surgical Research
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 33639371
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- continuous inhalation of 7% H2 for 24 hours and ongoing for 7-day observation period
- H₂ concentration
- 7% H2 gas
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 11 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Inhaling molecular hydrogen (H2) significantly improved survival and reduced inflammation in mice with sepsis.
Key Finding
Septic mice that inhaled hydrogen gas had a significantly higher survival rate (75% versus 40%) and showed reduced inflammatory markers and improved blood sugar control compared to untreated septic mice.
Summary
Researchers gave septic mice (mice with a severe bloodstream infection) inhaled hydrogen gas and compared their survival to mice that didn't receive it. Mice breathing hydrogen gas had a 75% survival rate compared to 40% in the control group. The hydrogen gas also reduced inflammatory markers (immune chemicals that cause damage) in the blood and helped maintain normal blood sugar levels. By analyzing gene activity in the liver, intestines, and lungs, researchers found that hydrogen gas turned off several inflammatory signaling pathways (communication systems between cells that trigger inflammation).
Practical Takeaway
This study provides early evidence that hydrogen gas inhalation may help reduce inflammation in sepsis, but it was conducted only in mice. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before hydrogen gas could be considered a sepsis treatment. The findings suggest a potential mechanism worth investigating further, but do not yet support any clinical use in humans.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been used in clinical cases. However, there are few studies of H2 therapy to treat sepsis, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of H2 are mostly unknown. We aimed to confirm effects of H2 therapy on sepsis and reveal its therapeutic mechanism via RNA sequencing…