Hydrogen Protects Cells from Damage by Fighting Free Radicals
- Authors
- Katsuya Iuchi, Kiyomi Nishimaki, Naomi Kamimura, Shigeo Ohta
- Journal
- Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Year
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1139/cjpp-2018-0741
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Oxidative Stress
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas (H2) can protect cells from damage caused by harmful molecules known as free radicals.
Key Finding
Molecular hydrogen protected cultured human cells from free-radical damage by preventing fatty acid breakdown and preserving mitochondrial function and energy production.
Summary
Researchers tested whether molecular hydrogen (H2) could protect human cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules that harm cells). They exposed cells to a toxic substance and found that hydrogen gas reduced cell damage by preventing the breakdown of fats in cell membranes and protecting mitochondria (the cell's energy-producing structures) from dysfunction.
Practical Takeaway
This laboratory study in isolated cells suggests hydrogen may have protective effects against oxidative stress, but it is very early-stage research. Results in cell cultures do not automatically translate to effects in living humans, so much more research would be needed before drawing conclusions about hydrogen water's health benefits.
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen (H2) was believed to be an inert and nonfunctional molecule in mammalian cells; however, we overturned the concept by reporting the therapeutic effects of H2 against oxidative stress. Subsequently, extensive studies revealed multiple functions of H2 by exhibiting the efficacies of H2 in various animal models and clinical studies. Here, we investigated the effect of H2 on free-radical-induced cytotoxicity using tert-butyl hydroperoxide in a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1. Cell membrane permeability was determined using lactate dehydrogenase release assay and Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining. Fatty acid peroxidation and mitochondrial viability were measured using 2 kinds of fluorescent dyes, Liperfluo and C11-BODIPY, and using the alamarBlue assay based on the reduction of resazurin to resorufin by mainly mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, respectively. Mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester. As a result, H2 protected the cultured cells against the cytotoxic effects induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide; H2 suppressed cellular fatty acid peroxidation and cell membrane permeability, mitigated the decline in mitochondrial oxidoreductase activity and mitochondrial membrane potential, and protected cells against cell death evaluated using propidium iodide staining. These results suggested that H2 suppresses free-radical-induced cell death through protection against fatty acid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction.