Hydrogen sulfide and vascular remodeling

Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport, Shreveport LA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Experimental evidence is emerging that the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide serves an important role in the cardiovascular system especially during tissue ischemia. However, specific cellular sources, targets, and mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide within the vasculature remain largely unknown. Work from our lab and others demonstrate that hydrogen sulfide is protective against chronic tissue ischemia, which involves increased vascular remodeling responses such as angiogenesis. Importantly, very little mechanistic information exists regarding how hydrogen sulfide modulates ischemic vascular remodeling in vivo or in vitro. Data in this application reveals a novel finding that hydrogen sulfide emanating from cystathionine !-lyase (CSE) selectively augments ischemic tissue nitrite reduction to NO that mediates increased angiogenic activity involving HIF-1 activity and VEGF expression. Experiments in this proposal will determine molecular mechanisms for these novel results through the hypothesis that endothelial cell CSE dependent hydrogen sulfide generation augments ischemic nitrite reduction to NO that increases ischemic vascular remodeling. The hypothesis will be examined through the pursuit of three specific aims including: 1) determine how endothelial cell CSE expression regulates ischemic vascular remodeling responses, 2) determine the mechanisms by which hydrogen sulfide increases NO generation in ischemic tissue and how this regulates HIF-1 activity and VEGF expression, and 3) determine the effect of endothelial cell CSE dependent hydrogen sulfide on diabetic ischemic vascular remodeling responses. Successful completion of this project will significantly advance the fields understanding of hydrogen sulfide biology in the vascular system, provide clear mechanistic information on hydrogen sulfide-NO pathway interactions, and identify novel approaches for ischemic vascular disease therapy.