Sulfur dioxide acts as a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system

作     者：CHEN Shan-shan TANG Chao-shu JIN Hong-fang DU Jun-bao 

作者机构：Department of Pediatrics Peking University First Hospital Beijing100034 China Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology Ministry of EducationBeijing 100191 China 

出 版 物：《Chinese Medical Journal》 (中华医学杂志（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2011年第124卷第12期

页      面：1901-1905页

核心收录：

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 

基　　金：This work was supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81070111  No. 30821001 and No. 30801251)  the Major State Basic Research Development Program (No. 2011CB503904) and the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (No. 7112130) 

主　　题：cardiovascular diseases endogenous exogenous sulfur dioxide 

摘      要：Objective Sulfur dioxide was considered to be toxic and detrimental to human health. However, this review highlights recent advances that suggest sulfur dioxide might be a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions. Data sources The data used in this review were mainly from the studies reported in Medline and PubMed published from 1986 to 2010. Study selection Original articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to exogenous and endogenous sulfur dioxide. Results The sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is endogenously generated in the cardiovascular system, and sulfur dioxide shows broad bioactive effects, such as antihypertension, vasodilation, and amelioration of vascular remodeling. A disturbed sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, athrosclerosis, spontaneous hypertension and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, in experimental studies the prognosis of these cardiovascular diseases can be improved by targeting endogenous sulfur dioxide. Conclusion The findings suggest that sulfur dioxide is a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.