Hydrogen Gas Helps Prevent Eye Disease in Mice Study
- Authors
- I-Chia Liang, Wen-Chin Ko, Yu-Jou Hsu, Yi-Ru Lin, Yun-Hsiang Chang, Xv-Hui Zong, Pei-Chen Lai, Der-Chen Chang, Chi-Feng Hung
- Journal
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijms222112049
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Taiwan
- Health Condition
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Body System
- Visual System
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas reduced eye damage and inflammation in mice with a condition that mimics a common cause of blindness in older people.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced eye leakage and suppressed inflammatory molecules and growth factors involved in abnormal blood vessel formation in mice with laser-induced macular degeneration, with effects increasing at higher doses.
Summary
This study tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas could help reduce damage in mice with a type of eye disease called neovascular age-related macular degeneration, which causes vision loss in older people. Researchers created the eye condition in mice using a laser, then had some mice breathe in hydrogen gas for different lengths of time. Mice that inhaled hydrogen gas showed less leakage in their eyes and had lower levels of inflammatory molecules (immune system signals that cause swelling and damage) compared to mice that didn't receive hydrogen.
Practical Takeaway
While these early results in mice suggest hydrogen gas inhalation may help reduce inflammation and abnormal blood vessel growth in a form of age-related macular degeneration, this is a preliminary animal study and much more research—including human trials—would be needed before any conclusions could be drawn for people. The findings are too early to guide any health decisions.
Abstract
Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the major pathologic feature of neovascular AMD. Oxidative damages and the ensuing chronic inflammation are representative of trigger events. Hydrogen gas (H2) has been demonstrated as an antioxidant and plays a role in the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. This experiment aimed to investigate the influence of H2 inhalation on a mouse model of CNV. Methods: Laser was used to induce CNV formation. C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups: the control group; the laser-only group; and the 2 h, 5 h, and 2.5 h/2.5 h groups that received laser and H2 inhalation (21% oxygen, 42% hydrogen, and 37% nitrogen mixture) for 2 h, 5 h, and 2.5 h twice every day, respectively. Results: The severity of CNV leakage on fluorescence angiography showed a significant decrease in the H2 inhalation groups. The mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and its immediate downstream target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) showed significant elevation after laser, and this elevation was suppressed in the H2 inhalation groups in an inhalation period length-related manner. The mRNA expression of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha and interlukin-6, also represented similar results. Conclusion: H2 inhalation could alleviate CNV leakage in a laser-induced mouse CNV model, and the potential mechanism might be related to the suppression of the inflammatory process and VEGF-driven CNV formation.