Hydrogen sulfide as a regulatory factor in kidney health and disease

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is synthesized in nearly all organ systems including the kidney. Recent findings have revealed that H₂S functions as a gasotransmitter affecting a wide range of physiologic functions similar to other gasotransmitters nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Research on H₂S regulation of kidney function is still in early stages. H₂S increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and inhibits sodium absorption by the tubules. There is burgeoning evidence that H₂S generation by kidney cells is reduced in acute and chronic disease states and that H₂S donors ameliorate injury. However, there are hints that the gas could also mediate kidney injury in specific models suggesting that its participation in kidney pathology is context-dependent. Expanding investigation of H₂S in kidney physiology and disease will not only help us understand its regulatory role but it may also give us a potential new target for therapeutic intervention.