Hydrogen Therapy Protects Newborn Lungs from Oxygen Damage
Hydrogen regulates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, improving bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonatal rats and RLE-6TN cells exposed to hyperoxia
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Mulin Liang, Feifei Song, Jin Wang, Chunli Yang, Huixi Yin, Wei Zhou
- Journal
- Frontiers in Pediatrics
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.3389/fped.2025.1662922
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
- Body System
- Respiratory
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Hydrogen protected developing lungs from oxygen-related injury by reducing cell death and activating protective cellular stress-response pathways.
Key Finding
Hydrogen treatment reduced lung damage and cell death in newborn rats with hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia by activating a cellular pathway involving the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its downstream target CPEB4.
Summary
This study examined how hydrogen gas might help treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a lung condition that affects premature infants exposed to high oxygen levels. Using newborn rats and lung cells in the lab, researchers found that hydrogen treatment reduced lung damage, prevented cell death, and improved the production of proteins needed for healthy lungs. The protective effect appeared to work through a specific cellular pathway involving a protein called the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
Practical Takeaway
While these findings are promising, this research was conducted only in animals and laboratory cells—not in human infants. Early evidence suggests hydrogen may help protect developing lungs from oxygen-related injury through a specific cellular mechanism, but much more research, including human studies, would be needed before hydrogen could be considered a treatment for BPD in premature infants.
Abstract (excerpt)
Introduction: This study investigates the role and underlying mechanism of hydrogen (H₂) in hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for developing effective BPD treatment strategies. Methods: A hyperoxia-induced BPD rat model and a rat type II…