Therapeutic Potential of Hydrogen Sulfide in Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, a prevalent pathological condition in medical practice, presents significant treatment challenges. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), acknowledged as the third gas signaling molecule, profoundly impacts various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Extensive research has demonstrated that H₂S can mitigate I/R damage across multiple organs and tissues. This review investigates the protective effects of H₂S in preventing I/R damage in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, intestines, lungs, stomach, spinal cord, testes, eyes, and other tissues. H₂S provides protection against I/R damage by alleviating inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress; inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial autophagy and dysfunction; and regulating microRNAs. Significant advancements in understanding the mechanisms by which H₂S reduces I/R damage have led to the development and synthesis of H₂S-releasing agents such as diallyl trisulfide-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DATS-MSN), AP39, zofenopril, and ATB-344, offering a new therapeutic avenue for I/R injury.