Hydrogen-supplemented drinking water protects cardiac allografts from inflammation-associated deterioration

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that molecular hydrogen has therapeutic value for dis- ease states that involve inflammation. We hypothesized that drinking hydro- gen-rich water (HW) daily would protect cardiac and aortic allograft recipients from inflammation-associated deterioration. Heterotopic heart transplantation with short-course tacrolimus immunosuppression and orthotopic aortic trans- plantation were performed in allogeneic rat strains. HW was generated either by bubbling hydrogen gas through tap water (Bu-HW) or via chemical reaction using a magnesium stick [Mg + 2H2O fiMg (OH)2 + H2] immersed in tap water (Mg-HW). Recipients were given either regular water (RW), Mg-HW, Bu-HW, or Mg-HW that had been subsequently degassed (DW). Graft survival was assessed by daily palpation for a heartbeat. Drinking Mg-HW or Bu-HW was remarkably effective in prolonging heart graft survival and reducing intimal hyperplasia in transplanted aortas as compared with grafts treated with RW or DW. Furthermore, T cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in the pres- ence of hydrogen in vitro, accompanied by less production of interleukin-2 and interferon-c. Hydrogen treatment was also associated with increased graft ATP levels and increased activity of the enzymes in mitochondrial respiratory chain. Drinking HW prolongs survival of cardiac allografts and reduces intimal hyper- plasia of aortic allografts.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Cardiac and aortic allograft transplantation (chronic rejection, vasculopathy)

Duration

100 days

Dose comparison

Compared two concentrations of hydrogen in water (0.6 mM for Mg-HW, 0.5 mM for Bu-HW) and their effects on blood hydrogen levels and outcomes.

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HW) significantly prolonged cardiac allograft survival and reduced intimal hyperplasia in transplanted aortas in rats. HW also reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, oxidative injury, and pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression, while increasing ATP and mitochondrial enzyme activity in grafts. In vitro, hydrogen inhibited T cell proliferation and Th1 cytokine production. No adverse effects were observed.