Hydrogen Gas Therapy Protects Intestines During Severe Infection in Mice
<p>iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Intestines in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis with Hydrogen Gas Treatment</p>
Research hubs: Immune System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Yi Jiang, Yingxue Bian, Naqi Lian, Yaoqi Wang, Keliang Xie, Chao Qin, Yonghao Yu
- Journal
- Drug Design, Development and Therapy
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 33209018
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% hydrogen gas inhalation
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 16 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas significantly improves survival and reduces intestinal damage in mice with sepsis by affecting certain proteins and metabolic pathways.
Key Finding
Inhaling 2% hydrogen gas significantly improved survival rates and reduced intestinal damage in mice with polymicrobial sepsis, with the protective effect linked to changes in 199 different proteins involved in thyroid hormone and nitrogen metabolism.
Summary
Researchers used mice with a severe infection (sepsis) to test whether inhaling hydrogen gas could protect the intestines from damage. They found that mice breathing 2% hydrogen gas survived longer, had fewer bacteria in their blood, and showed less intestinal damage compared to untreated mice. Using advanced protein analysis, they identified 199 proteins that changed when hydrogen was used, suggesting the gas works by affecting how the body processes thyroid hormones and nitrogen.
Practical Takeaway
This mouse study provides early evidence that hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect intestines during severe infections, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed to determine if hydrogen gas could be a useful treatment for sepsis in patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
Objective: Sepsis-associated intestinal injury has a higher morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis, but there is still no effective treatment. Our research team has proven that inhaling 2% hydrogen gas (H2) can effectively improve sepsis and related organ damage, but the specific molecular…