Role of hydrogen sulfide in health and disease

Abstract In the past, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) was recognized as a toxic and dangerous gas; in recent years, with increased research, we have discovered that H 2 S can act as an endogenous regulatory transmitter. In mammals, H 2 S‐catalyzing enzymes, such as cystathionine‐β‐synthase, cystathionine‐γ‐lyase, and 3‐mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, are differentially expressed in a variety of tissues and affect a variety of biological functions, such as transcriptional and posttranslational modification of genes, activation of signaling pathways in the cell, and metabolic processes in tissues, by producing H 2 S. Various preclinical studies have shown that H 2 S affects physiological and pathological processes in the body. However, a detailed systematic summary of these roles in health and disease is lacking. Therefore, this review provides a thorough overview of the physiological roles of H 2 S in different systems and the diseases associated with disorders of H 2 S metabolism, such as ischemia–reperfusion injury, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Meanwhile, this paper also introduces H 2 S donors and novel release modes, as well as the latest preclinical experimental results, aiming to provide researchers with new ideas to discover new diagnostic targets and therapeutic options.