Anti‑inflammatory and antitumor action of hydrogen via reactive oxygen species

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2) has advantages that lead it to be used as a novel antioxidant in preventive and therapeutic applications. H2 can permeate into biomembranes, cytosol, mitochondria and nuclei, and can be dissolved in water or saline to produce H2 water or H2‑rich saline. H2 selectively reduces oxidants of the detrimental reactive oxygen species (ROS), including hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO‑), which serve a causative role in the promotion of tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, but do not disturb metabolic oxidation‑reduction reactions in cell signaling. Compared with traditional antioxidants, H2 is a small molecule that can easily dissipate throughout the body and cells; thus, it may be a safe and effective antioxidant for inflammatory diseases and cancer, since ROS usually initiates tumor progression. Treatment with H2 may involve correction of the oxidative/anti‑oxidative imbalance and suppression of inflammatory mediators. Therefore the present review will discuss the anti‑inflammatory and anti‑tumorigenic action of H2 via ROS.

Study details

Article type

Review

Disease / injury model

Cancer, Inflammatory Diseases, Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, Metabolic Syndrome, Neurodegenerative Diseases

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

This review identifies that hydrogen (H2) demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects primarily through selective reduction of detrimental reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, without disturbing physiological redox signaling. H2 administration (via inhalation, oral, intravenous, or topical routes) has shown preventive and therapeutic benefits in various animal models and clinical settings.