Hydrogen Gas Protects Kidneys from Sleep Apnea-Like Oxygen Loss
- Authors
- Peng Guan, Zhi-Min Sun, Li-Fei Luo, Jian Zhou, Shengchang Yang, Ya-Shuo Zhao, Fu-Yang Yu, Ji-Ren An, Na Wang, En-Sheng Ji
- Journal
- Life Sciences
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.04.005
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia
- Body System
- Renal
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas helps protect rat kidneys from damage caused by intermittent lack of oxygen.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation protected rat kidneys from damage caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia by activating cellular cleanup mechanisms and reducing oxidative stress and cell death.
Summary
Researchers exposed rats to repeated cycles of low oxygen (a condition that mimics sleep apnea) and found that inhaling hydrogen gas protected their kidneys from damage. The hydrogen appeared to work by reducing harmful molecules called free radicals, turning on a cellular cleanup process called autophagy, and blocking stress signals that would normally trigger cell death.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas may have protective effects on kidney function during conditions involving repeated oxygen deprivation, such as sleep apnea. However, this is early-stage animal research, and it remains unclear whether these results would apply to humans or what dose and delivery method would be relevant. Human studies would be needed before any therapeutic recommendations could be made.
Abstract
Aims Hydrogen gas (H2) has a diversity of effects such as anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. However, molecular mechanism underlying the potential effect of H2 on chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) induced renal injury remains obscure. Materials and methods In the present study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control (CON) group, CIH group, CIH with H2 treatment (CIH + H2) group, and control with H2 treatment (CON + H2) group. Oxidative stress, autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were detected to determine how H2 affected the renal function of CIH exposed rats. Key findings We demonstrated that rats who inhale hydrogen gas showed improved renal function, alleviated pathological damage, oxidative stress and apoptosis in CIH rats. Meanwhile, CIH-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress was decreased by H2 as the expressions of CHOP, caspase-12, and GRP78 were down-regulated. Furthermore, relative higher levels of LC3-II/I ratio and Beclin-1, with decreased expression of p62, were found after H2 administrated. Inhibition of mTOR may be involved in the upregulation of autophagy by H2. Finally, increased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK was involved in the CIH-induced pathological process. H2 could inhibit the activation of p38 and JNK, suggesting H2 played an active part in resisting renal injury via MAPK. Significance Taken together, our study reveals that H2 can ameliorate CIH-induced kidney injury by decreasing endoplasmic reticulum stress and activating autophagy through inhibiting oxidative stress-dependent p38 and JNK MAPK activation.