Hydrogen Water Protects Kidneys from Sepsis Damage in Rats
- Authors
- Liheng Lin, Deliang Qiu, Fei Yang, Yu Xia, Siyuan Cai, Xiaojun Liao, Wanxin Deng, Changxue Wu
- Journal
- Shock
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002404
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Sepsis
- Body System
- Renal
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) treatment improves kidney function and survival rates in rats with sepsis by reducing inflammation and protecting the kidney's blood vessel lining.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline improved survival rate from 30% to 70% in septic rats and significantly thickened the protective glycocalyx layer in blood vessel capillaries (from 44 nanometers to 115 nanometers).
Summary
This study tested hydrogen-rich saline (a salt water solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas) in rats with sepsis (a life-threatening infection response). Researchers found that hydrogen-rich saline improved survival rates, reduced kidney damage, and protected the delicate inner lining of blood vessels (called the glycocalyx) from breaking down. The treatment also reduced inflammatory chemicals in the blood and activated protective cellular pathways.
Practical Takeaway
While these results are promising, this is an animal study in rats with artificially induced sepsis, so findings cannot be directly applied to humans. The study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may help protect kidneys and blood vessels during severe infection, but human clinical trials would be needed to determine if similar benefits occur in people.
Abstract
Sepsis causes dysfunction in different organs, but the pathophysiological mechanisms behind it are similar and mainly involve complex haemodynamic and cellular dysfunction. The importance of microcirculatory dysfunction in sepsis is becoming increasingly evident, in which endothelial dysfunction and glycocalyx degradation play a major role. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) on renal microcirculation in septic renal failure, and whether Sirt1 was involved in the renoprotective effects of HRS. Rats model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture, and septic rats were intraperitoneal injected with HRS (10 ml/kg). We found that in sepsis, the degree of glycocalyx shedding was directly proportional to the severity of sepsis. The seven-day survival rate of rats in the HRS + CLP group (70%) was higher than that of the CLP group (30%). HRS improved acidosis and renal function and reduced the release of inflammatory factors (TNF, IL-1βand IL-6). The endothelial glycocalyx of capillaries in the HRS + CLP group (115 nm) was observed to be significantly thicker than that in the CLP group (44 nm) and EX527 (67.2 nm) groups by electron microscopy, and fewer glycocalyx metabolites (SDC-1, HS, HA, and MMP9) were found in the blood. Compared with the CLP group, HRS reduced renal apoptosis and upregulated Sirt1 expression, and inhibited the NF-κB/MMP9 signalling pathway. In addition, HRS did not damage immune function in septic rats as well. Generally speaking, our results suggest that HRS can alleviate the inflammatory response, inhibit glycocalyx shedding, improve septic kidney injury, and enhance survival rate.