Hydrogen Gas Protects Transplant Lungs from Damage in Rats
Lung Inflation With Hydrogen During the Cold Ischemia Phase Alleviates Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Pyroptosis in Rats
Research hubs: Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Panpan Zheng, Jiyu Kang, Entong Xing, Bin Zheng, Xueyao Wang, Huacheng Zhou
- Journal
- Frontiers in Physiology
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 34408660
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 3% H2 + 40% O2 + 57% N2 at 10 ml/kg, gas replaced every 20 min during 2 h cold ischemia phase
- H₂ concentration
- 3% H2
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 25 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Inflating donor rat lungs with a small amount of hydrogen gas during preservation can protect the lungs from damage and inflammation caused by a lack of blood flow and oxygen.
Key Finding
Inflating donor lungs with 3% hydrogen gas during cold storage significantly reduced transplant-related injury in rats by suppressing a cell death process called pyroptosis, with better results than oxygen inflation alone.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inflating donor rat lungs with hydrogen gas during the waiting period before transplant could reduce damage that occurs when blood flow is restored to the organ. They compared lungs inflated with hydrogen, oxygen alone, or left deflated. Lungs treated with hydrogen showed better function, less inflammation, and reduced damage compared to the other groups, possibly because hydrogen reduced harmful molecules called free radicals.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen gas may help preserve donor lungs for transplantation, but it is early-stage research in animals only. Human studies would be needed to determine if this approach could improve outcomes in lung transplant patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Lung inflation with hydrogen is an effective method to protect donor lungs from lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). This study aimed to examine the effect of lung inflation with 3% hydrogen during the cold ischemia phase on pyroptosis in lung grafts of rats.Methods: Adult male…