Preventing Developmental Origins of Cardiovascular Disease: Hydrogen Sulfide as a Potential Target?

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular physiology
• Developmental biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) can arise from early-life insults, a concept known as the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD).
• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a key regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis, is implicated in the pathogenesis of developmental origins of CVD.
• Early interventions using H2S have shown potential in preventing adult-onset CVD in animal models through reprogramming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of H2S in cardiovascular programming.
• To explore the mechanisms linking H2S signaling to cardiovascular programming.
• To summarize H2S-based reprogramming strategies for preventing developmental origins of CVD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on H2S, cardiovascular programming, and DOHaD.
• Analysis of evidence linking H2S signaling pathways to CVD mechanisms.
• Overview of animal studies on H2S-based interventions for CVD prevention.

Main Results:

• H2S plays a dual role in cardiovascular programming, acting pathologically in developmental origins of CVD and therapeutically via reprogramming.
• Mechanisms include modulation of oxidative stress, nitric oxide, nutrient sensing, renin-angiotensin system, and gut microbiota.
• H2S precursors and donors demonstrate preventative effects against adult-onset CVD in animal models.

Conclusions:

• Understanding H2S's role in cardiovascular programming is crucial for developing novel CVD prevention strategies.
• H2S-based reprogramming interventions offer a promising therapeutic avenue for mitigating the global burden of CVD.
• Further research into H2S signaling and interventions could lead to effective strategies for preventing adult-onset cardiovascular diseases originating in early life.