Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Gut Inflammation in Newborn Intestinal Disease
- Authors
- Shenghua Yu, ZhiBao Lv, Zhimei Gao, Jingyi Shi, Qingfeng Sheng, Lulu Zheng, Junmei Zhou, Xueli Wang
- Journal
- Frontiers in Pediatrics
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.3389/fped.2021.710382
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis
- Body System
- Digestive
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas can reduce the severity of a serious intestinal disease by decreasing inflammation-promoting cells and their activity.
Key Finding
Hydrogen water reduced intestinal inflammation severity in mice with necrotizing enterocolitis by suppressing pro-inflammatory immune cell activity and blocking a key inflammation-signaling protein (NF-κB p65) in the intestinal lining.
Summary
This mouse study investigated how hydrogen water might protect against necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious intestinal inflammation in newborns. Researchers found that hydrogen water reduced inflammation by changing how immune cells called macrophages behave—specifically, it reduced pro-inflammatory signals and decreased activity of a protein called NF-κB that triggers inflammation in the intestines.
Practical Takeaway
While this mouse study suggests hydrogen water may have anti-inflammatory effects relevant to intestinal disease, it is a preliminary laboratory finding that has not been tested in humans. The study's results cannot be directly applied to human health without further clinical research. Anyone considering hydrogen water for medical purposes should consult a healthcare provider.
Abstract
Background: Hydrogen is protective against intestinal injury in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), mainly through to alleviate inflammation response. The M1 macrophages can promote inflammation. We hypothesized that hydrogen would promote the M1 macrophages conversion during the polarization and reduce the inflammatory factors in NEC.Methods: We used M1 and M2 macrophages induced from RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages, models of NEC and macrophages derived from spleens, abdominal lymph nodes and lamina propria in model mice. Cytokines, CD16/32 and CD206 were measured by quantitative PCR, flow cytometry. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 were determined by western blot. Histology staining were used to assess the severity of NEC.Results: Macrophages were successfully polarized to M1 or M2 by assessing the expression of inflammatory factors. Pro-inflammatory factors and CD16/32 in M1 macrophages were decreased, and the expression of CD16/32 in lamina propria were inhibited after treatment with hydrogen, but the changes has no effects in other tissues. Hydrogen inhibited the NF-κB p65 in M1 macrophages nucleus and distal ileum of NEC. HE staining showed hydrogen could attenuate the severity of NEC.Conclusion: Hydrogen could attenuate the severity of NEC through promoting M1 macrophages conversion by inhibited the expression of NF-κB p65 in the nucleus.