Hydrogen Gas Improves Kidney Survival for Transplant from Deceased Donors
Mitigation of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Improvement in Overall Graft Viability by Hypothermic Pulsatile Perfusion with Molecular Hydrogen Is Associated with Trx-1/HO-1 Activation in a Non-Survival Ex Vivo Swine Model of Donation-After-Circulatory-Death Kidney Preservation and Transplantation
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (pig)
- Authors
- George J Dugbartey, Cora England, Tamara S Ortas, Mahmoud Richard-Mohamed, Larry Jiang, Talal Shamma, Martin Igbokwe, Ali Bozaci, Juan Gonzalez Oyarzun, David Seok, Saeeda A Zainul, Lori Harrow, Monica Freeman, Renee Lindo-Anu, Aushanth Ruthirakanthan, Abdullah Alfaifi, John Wang, Patrick McLeod, Aaron Haig, Christopher Bonham, Alp Sener
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijms27114931
- Study Type
- Pig
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Canada
- Health Condition
- Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
- Body System
- Renal
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Hydrogen-saturated preservation solution improved kidney structure and function in an ex vivo pig model of DCD kidney transplantation.
Key Finding
In an animal model, kidneys preserved with hydrogen-saturated solution showed significantly reduced tissue damage and improved function markers compared to standard preservation, with improvements linked to activation of protective cellular pathways (Trx-1 and HO-1).
Summary
Researchers tested whether molecular hydrogen (a gas dissolved in preservation solution) could protect kidneys from damage during transplantation. Using pig kidneys that had been starved of oxygen to simulate donation-after-circulatory-death conditions, they compared kidneys preserved with regular solution versus hydrogen-enriched solution. Kidneys treated with hydrogen showed less tissue damage, better kidney function markers, and activated protective pathways in the cells compared to untreated kidneys.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in pigs, not humans, so it cannot yet inform decisions about hydrogen water for consumers. The study suggests hydrogen-enriched preservation solutions may help protect donor kidneys during transplantation, but clinical trials in humans would be needed before any medical applications could be established.
Abstract (excerpt)
Despite their reduced viability, kidneys from donors-after-circulatory-death (DCD) increase the pool of transplantable kidneys. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a gas with therapeutic potential against graft injury. We investigated the effect of H2 in an ex vivo porcine model of DCD kidney…