Hydrogen sulfide in health and diseases: cross talk with noncoding RNAs

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is previously described as a potentially lethal toxic gas. However, this gasotransmitter is also endogenously generated by the actions of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) in mammalian systems, thus belonging to the family of gasotransmitters after nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). The physiological or pathological significance of H₂S has been extensively expanded for decades. Growing evidence has revealed that H₂S exerts cytoprotective functions in the cardiovascular, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems by modulating numerous signaling pathways. With the continuous advancement of microarray and next-generation sequencing technologies, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained recognition as key players in human health and diseases due to their considerable potential as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Coincidentally, H₂S and ncRNAs are not independent regulators but interact with each other during the development and progression of human diseases. Specifically, ncRNAs might serve as downstream mediators of H₂S or act on H₂S-generating enzymes to govern endogenous H₂S production. The purpose of this review is to summarize the interactive regulatory roles of H₂S and ncRNAs in the initiation and development of various diseases and explore their potential health and therapeutic benefits. This review will also highlight the importance of cross talk between H₂S and ncRNAs in disease therapy.