Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in Systemic and Pulmonary Hypertension: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

There is increasing interest in the possible therapeutic benefits of the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H2S; sulfide), and drugs which release sulfide are currently being evaluated in both preclinical and clinical studies as treatments for conditions ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease to inflammation. Sulfide is generally considered to act as a vasodilator, and it is therefore not surprising that the effects of sulfide donors on both systemic and pulmonary hypertension are being examined. In this review, we provide a critical evaluation of both the evidence that H2S may be of benefit in treating systemic and pulmonary hypertension, and of current hypotheses regarding the cellular mechanisms underlying sulfide’s effects on the systemic and pulmonary vascular systems.