Sodium hydrosulfide alleviates pulmonary artery collagen remodeling in rats with high pulmonary blood flow

This study aimed to explore the effect of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on pulmonary artery collagen remodeling in rats with high pulmonary blood flow. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham group, shunt group, sham + NaHS (an H2S donor) group, and shunt + NaHS group. After 11 weeks of shunting, mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), relative median area (RMA) of pulmonary arteries, H2S concentration in lung tissues, plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels, and ET-1 mRNA in lung tissues were investigated. Collagen I and collagen III were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Hydroxyproline assay and Sirius-red staining were performed. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. After 11 weeks of shunting, rats showed a significant pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary artery collagen remodeling in association with a decrease in lung tissue H2S content. After NaHS treatment for 11 weeks, lung tissue H(2)S content was increased, whereas MPAP was attenuated and RMA was reduced. Meanwhile, pulmonary artery collagen I and collagen III protein expressions of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries were inhibited, but MMP-13/TIMP-1 ratio was augmented with a decreased plasma ET-1 content and lung tissue ET-1mRNA and CTGF expressions. The downregulation of H(2)S is involved in the development of pulmonary artery collagen remodeling induced by high pulmonary blood flow.