Hydrogen Sulﬁde Metabolizing Enzymes in the Intestinal Mucosa in Pediatric and Adult Inﬂammatory Bowel Disease

Antioxidants, 2022 · DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112235 · Published: November 12, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study explores the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comparing enzyme expression in healthy individuals and IBD patients of different ages. H2S is a gas with both toxic and regulatory functions in the body. The research focuses on enzymes involved in both the production (CSE, 3-MST) and detoxification (ETHE1, SQOR, TST) of H2S in the intestinal mucosa. The study found differences in enzyme expression related to both age and the presence of IBD. The findings suggest that H2S metabolism is dysfunctional in IBD, particularly in adults, and that this dysfunction may be related to the progression of the disease over time. This was determined by observing the differences in enzyme expression in adults versus children with IBD.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

25 adults and 22 children with IBD along with those of 26 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Healthy adults showed a trend towards lower expression of H2S-metabolizing enzymes compared to healthy children, indicating an age-related decrease.
2
Adults with IBD exhibited lower expression of H2S-metabolizing enzymes than healthy adult controls, suggesting a dysfunctional H2S metabolism in IBD.
3
Children with IBD showed a less pronounced difference in enzyme expression compared to their healthy counterparts, suggesting that the dysfunction in H2S metabolism may develop over time.

Research Summary

The study investigated the expression of H2S-metabolizing enzymes in intestinal biopsies from healthy individuals and IBD patients, across different age groups. Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the expression levels of CSE, 3-MST, ETHE1, SQOR, and TST. The results indicated an age-related decrease in the expression of H2S-metabolizing enzymes in healthy individuals. Furthermore, IBD patients, particularly adults, showed a reduction in the expression of these enzymes compared to healthy controls. The study concludes that H2S metabolism is dysfunctional in adult IBD patients, and this dysfunction is less pronounced in children, suggesting it may be a consequence rather than a cause of inflammation. More research is needed to identify new targets for IBD treatment.

Practical Implications

Age-Related Decline

The age-related decrease in H2S-metabolizing enzymes suggests that H2S metabolism may play a role in aging and age-related intestinal disorders.

IBD Pathogenesis

The dysfunctional H2S metabolism in IBD patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, potentially through a loss of control of H2S levels in the colon.

Therapeutic Targets

The study highlights the potential for targeting H2S metabolism in the development of new therapies for IBD.

Study Limitations

1
Limited sample size in each group may affect the statistical correlations.
2
The study does not take the exogenous H2S metabolism into account.
3
The cross-sectional design reflects inflammation at a single point in time rather than the cumulative inflammatory burden.

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