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Published on: March 17, 2020
Therapeutic effects of hydrogen on chronic graft-versus-host disease
Liren Qian1, Xiaopeng Liu1,2, Jianliang Shen1
1Department of Hematology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Insights
Molecular hydrogen shows promise in treating chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). This study found hydrogen-rich saline improved survival rates and reduced skin lesions in cGVHD mice, suggesting a potential new therapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a significant cause of mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
- Pathogenesis of cGVHD involves inflammatory cytokine imbalance and fibrosis.
- Molecular hydrogen exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-fibrotic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen in a murine model of cGVHD.
- To determine if hydrogen administration can improve survival and reduce cGVHD manifestations.
Main Methods:
- An MHC-incompatible murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model was used to induce cGVHD.
- Mice received hydrogen-rich saline post-transplantation.
- Survival rates and skin lesions were evaluated as outcome measures.
Main Results:
- Administration of hydrogen-rich saline significantly increased the survival rate of cGVHD mice.
- Hydrogen treatment led to a reduction in the severity of skin lesions associated with cGVHD.
- This study provides the first evidence for hydrogen's efficacy against cGVHD in mice.
Conclusions:
- Molecular hydrogen demonstrates therapeutic potential as an effective and safe agent for treating cGVHD.
- Hydrogen may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for managing cGVHD post-HSCT.
- Further research into hydrogen's mechanisms in cGVHD is warranted.
Abstract:
The incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is rising recent years, which has been the leading cause of non-transplantation mortality post allogenetic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Imbalance of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of cGVHD. Recent studies showed that molecular hydrogen has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrosis effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that molecular hydrogen may have therapeutic effects on cGVHD. To determine whether hydrogen could protect mice from cGVHD in an MHC-incompatible murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model, survival rates of mice were calculated, and skin lesions were also evaluated after BMT. This article demonstrated that administration of hydrogen-rich saline increased survival rate of cGVHD mice. Administration of hydrogen-rich saline after transplantation also reduced skin lesions of cGVHD mice. Previously, we reported the therapeutic effects of hydrogen on acute GVHD. However, there was no report on the therapeutic effects of hydrogen on cGVHD mice. It is suggested that hydrogen has a potential as an effective and safe therapeutic agent on cGVHD. This study will provide new ideas on the treatment of cGVHD and has important theoretical values.
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