Molecular hydrogen: Redox reactions and possible biological interactions

Hancock, John T.; LeBaron, Tyler W.; Russell, Grace

Abstract

Molecular hydrogen (H2), either as a gas or as hydrogen-rich water (HRW), is suggested to be a useful treatment for a range of human diseases and also to improve agricultural output. It is often posited that H2 accomplishes its biological action, in part, through its antioxidant effects, including reacting with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-), however, this direct reaction has been questioned. The antioxidant effects of H2 are also often mediated by heme oxygenase (HO-1), although the exact mechanism remains elusive. Alternatively, it has been proposed that H2 can propagate its effects through the reduction of Fe3+ in various redox-active proteins, which is the focus of this review. It is suggested that a systematic experimental analysis of proteins containing heme prosthetic groups would would help elucidate the biological mechanisms of H2 and its development as a medical and restorative therapeutic.

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Apr 23, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 10, 2021
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 11, 2021
• Journal: Reactive Oxygen Species (Apex)
• Print ISSN: 2380-2367
• Publisher: AIMSCI Cell Med Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Pages: m17–m25
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.20455/ros.2021.m.803
• Keywords: Antioxidants; Heme oxygenase; Hydrogen gas; NADPH oxidase; Nitric oxide; Redox; Reactive Oxygen Species; Soluble guanylyl cyclase
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7289261
• Publisher URL: https://rosj.org/index.php/ros