Protective Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide in Alzheimer's Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury

• Main Authors: Bindu D. Paul (Author), Andrew A. Pieper (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.3390/antiox12051095; 2076-3921
• Keywords: transsulfuration; cysteine; hydrogen sulfide; Alzheimer's disease; Huntington's disease; traumatic brain injury; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Antioxidants, Vol 12, Iss 5, p 1095 (2023)

The gaseous signaling molecule hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) critically modulates a plethora of physiological processes across evolutionary boundaries. These include responses to stress and other neuromodulatory effects that are typically dysregulated in aging, disease, and injury. H₂S has a particularly prominent role in modulating neuronal health and survival under both normal and pathologic conditions. Although toxic and even fatal at very high concentrations, emerging evidence has also revealed a pronounced neuroprotective role for lower doses of endogenously generated or exogenously administered H₂S. Unlike traditional neurotransmitters, H₂S is a gas and, therefore, is unable to be stored in vesicles for targeted delivery. Instead, it exerts its physiologic effects through the persulfidation/sulfhydration of target proteins on reactive cysteine residues. Here, we review the latest discoveries on the neuroprotective roles of H₂S in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and traumatic brain injury, which is one the greatest risk factors for AD.