Hydrogen Therapy Prevents Kidney Dialysis Complications in Mice

Authors
Journal
The FASEB Journal
Year
DOI
10.1096/fj.201901981R
Study Type
Cell Culture
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
China
Health Condition
End-Stage Renal Disease
Body System
Renal

TL;DR

Adding molecular hydrogen to the fluid used in peritoneal dialysis could help prevent scarring in the abdomen caused by long-term dialysis treatment.

Key Finding

Molecular hydrogen reduced peritoneal fibrosis in laboratory and mouse models by reducing harmful reactive oxygen species and blocking the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Summary

Peritoneal dialysis is a kidney treatment that helps people with severe kidney disease, but using it long-term can cause scarring of the membrane lining the abdomen (peritoneal fibrosis). This study tested whether molecular hydrogen—a gas that can reduce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species in cells—could prevent this scarring. Researchers used mouse models and laboratory cell cultures exposed to high glucose (similar to dialysis fluid) and found that hydrogen-rich dialysate reduced scarring by lowering harmful molecules and blocking specific cellular signaling pathways.

Practical Takeaway

While this early-stage research in cells and mice suggests hydrogen-rich dialysate may help protect against scarring in peritoneal dialysis patients, human clinical trials are needed to confirm safety and effectiveness. The study does not yet provide evidence that hydrogen water supplements would have similar benefits for dialysis patients.

Abstract

As a convenient, effective and economical kidney replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), peritoneal dialysis is available in approximately 11% of ESRD patients worldwide. However, long-term peritoneal dialysis treatment causes peritoneal fibrosis. In recent years, the application potential of molecular hydrogen in the biomedicine has been well recognized. Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and acts as an antioxidant. In this experiment, a high glucose-induced peritoneal fibrosis mouse model was successfully established by intraperitoneal injection of high glucose peritoneal dialysate, and peritoneal fibrosis mice were treated with hydrogen-rich peritoneal dialysate. In addition, in vitro studies of high glucose-induced peritoneal fibrosis were performed using MeT-5A cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that molecular hydrogen could inhibit peritoneal fibrosis progress induced by high glucose effectively. Furthermore, it has been found that molecular hydrogen alleviate fibrosis by eliminating intracellular ROS and inhibiting the activation of the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. The present data proposes that molecular hydrogen exerts the capacity of anti-peritoneal fibrosis through the ROS/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. Therefore, molecule hydrogen is a potential, safe, and effective treatment agent, with peritoneal protective property and great clinical significance.