Role of hydrogen sulfide-microRNA crosstalk in health and disease

The mutual regulation between hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and microRNA (miRNA) is involved in the development of many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease, and high-risk pregnancy. Abnormal expressions of endogenous H₂S-producing enzyme and miRNA in tissues and cells often indicate the occurrence of diseases, so the maintenance of their normal levels in the body can mitigate damages caused by various factors. Many studies have found that H₂S can promote the migration, invasion, and proliferation of cancer cells by regulating the expression of miRNA, while many H₂S donors can inhibit cancer progression by interfering with the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, metastasis, and angiogenesis of cancer cells. Furthermore, the mutual regulation between H₂S and miRNA can also prevent cell injury in cardiovascular disease and inflammatory disease through anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, and pro-autophagy. In addition, H₂S can promote angiogenesis and relieve vasoconstriction by regulating the expression of miRNA, thereby improving fetal growth in high-risk pregnancy. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of mutual regulation between H₂S and miRNA in various diseases, which may provide reliable therapeutic targets for these diseases.