Hydrogen Protects Cells from Damage by Activating Key Survival Pathways
- Authors
- Jihyun Lee, Goowon Yang, Young-Joo Kim, Quynh Hoa Tran, Wonchae Choe, Insug Kang, Sung Soo Kim, Joohun Ha
- Journal
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.07.119
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- South Korea
- Health Condition
- Oxidative Stress
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Molecular hydrogen (H2) can act as an antioxidant and protect cells by activating a specific energy-regulating pathway without depleting energy stores.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich medium activated a cellular signaling pathway (LKB1-AMPK-FoxO1) that enhanced cells' natural antioxidant defenses and protected them from oxidative stress-induced damage.
Summary
Researchers exposed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (immature mouse cells) to hydrogen-rich medium and found that it protected the cells from oxidative stress (damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals). The protection worked by activating a cellular signaling pathway called LKB1-AMPK-FoxO1, which boosted the cells' natural antioxidant defenses and prevented cell death. This suggests hydrogen may work not just by directly neutralizing free radicals, but by triggering the cells' own protective mechanisms.
Practical Takeaway
This is a laboratory study in mouse cells only, so it does not directly demonstrate effects in humans. While the findings suggest hydrogen may work through cellular signaling pathways rather than simple free radical scavenging, much more research—including human studies—would be needed to determine whether hydrogen water could have similar protective effects in people.
Abstract
Persistent oxidative stress is recognized as a major cause of many pathological conditions as well as ageing. However, most clinical trials of dietary antioxidants have failed to produce successful outcomes in treating oxidative stress-induced diseases. Molecular hydrogen (H2) has recently received considerable attention as a therapeutic agent owing to its novel antioxidant properties, a selective scavenger of hydroxyl and peroxynitrite radicals. Beyond this, numerous reports support that H2 can modulate the activity of various cellular signal pathways. However, its effect on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal pathway, a central regulator of energy hemostasis, has remained almost elusive. Here, we report that hydrogen-rich medium activated LKB1-AMPK signal pathway without ATP depletion, which in turn induced FoxO1-dependent transcription of manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Moreover, hydrogen-rich media effectively reduced the level of reactive oxygen species in cells treated with hydrogen peroxide and protected these cells from apoptosis in an AMPK-dependent manner. These results suggest that the LKB1-AMPK-FoxO1 signaling pathway is a critical mediator of the antioxidant properties of H2, further supporting the idea that H2 acts as a signaling molecule to serve various physiological functions.