Hydrogen Gas Protects Transplanted Lungs During Storage in Rats
Lung inflation with hydrogen during the cold ischemia phase decreases lung graft injury in rats
Research hubs: Respiratory System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Rongfang Liu, Xianhai Fang, Chao Meng, Jingchun Xing, Jinfeng Liu, Wanchao Yang, Wenzhi Li, Huacheng Zhou
- Journal
- Experimental Biology and Medicine
- Year
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1177/1535370214563895
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Lung Transplant Complications
- Body System
- Respiratory
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Inflating donor lungs with a mixture of 3% hydrogen gas during preservation improved their function and reduced injury after being transplanted into rats.
Key Finding
In rats, inflating donor lungs with 3% hydrogen gas during cold storage before transplant reduced inflammatory markers and oxidative stress while improving oxygen levels and lung function compared to standard oxygen inflation.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inflating donor rat lungs with a mixture containing 3% hydrogen gas during the period before transplant surgery could reduce damage to the lungs. They compared lungs inflated with hydrogen to lungs inflated with standard oxygen and found that the hydrogen-treated lungs had less inflammation, less oxidative stress (cellular damage from unstable molecules), better oxygen levels in the blood, and less cell death after transplant.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage rat study suggesting hydrogen gas may help preserve donor lungs during transplant procedures, but it does not yet demonstrate effects in humans. Much more research would be needed before this approach could be considered for clinical use in lung transplantation.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on lung ischemia–reperfusion injury when it is inhaled by donor or/and recipient. This study examined the effects of lung inflation with 3% hydrogen during the cold ischemia phase on lung graft function in rats. The donor lung was inflated…