Hydrogen Gas Protects Against Severe Sepsis Intestinal Damage in Mice
Hydrogen plays a protective role in intestinal injury of mice with severe sepsis by regulating the release of heme oxygenase-1 and high mobility group protein B1
Research hubs: Immune System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Ling Yin, Man Yang, Yang Yu, Keliang Xie, Yonghao Yu
- Journal
- Zhonghua Wei Zhong Bing Ji Jiu Yi Xue
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20200717-00533
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Severe Sepsis
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas significantly improved survival and reduced bacterial infection and intestinal damage in mice with severe sepsis, but only if they had a functioning Nrf2 gene, which is important for protecting cells from stress.
Key Finding
In mice with severe sepsis, hydrogen inhalation improved 7-day survival rates from 0% to 45% and reduced bacterial load, but only in mice with functional Nrf2 protein—suggesting Nrf2 is necessary for hydrogen's protective mechanism.
Summary
This mouse study tested whether breathing hydrogen gas could protect the intestines during severe sepsis (a life-threatening infection). Researchers gave some mice hydrogen to breathe and compared them to mice that breathed only air. Mice that received hydrogen had better survival rates and clearer infections, but only if they had a working version of a protein called Nrf2. When researchers removed the Nrf2 protein, hydrogen no longer helped, showing that this protein is essential for hydrogen's protective effect.
Practical Takeaway
This early animal evidence suggests hydrogen gas may help protect intestinal tissue during severe infection by activating a specific cellular pathway. However, this is a mouse study only, and it's unclear whether these results would apply to humans or what dose and delivery method would be appropriate. Much more research, including human trials, would be needed before hydrogen could be considered a treatment for sepsis.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: To investigate the protective effect of the hydrogen (H2) inhalation on intestinal injury in severe sepsis mice and its relationship with nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) pathway. Methods: The 280 male wild-type (WT)…