Sulfur dioxide acts as a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Sulfur dioxide was considered to be toxic and detrimental to human health. However, this review highlights recent advances that suggest sulfur dioxide might be a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>The data used in this review were mainly from the studies reported in Medline and PubMed published from 1986 to 2010.</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Original articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to exogenous and endogenous sulfur dioxide.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is endogenously generated in the cardiovascular system, and sulfur dioxide shows broad bioactive effects, such as antihypertension, vasodilation, and amelioration of vascular remodeling. A disturbed sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, athrosclerosis, spontaneous hypertension and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, in experimental studies the prognosis of these cardiovascular diseases can be improved by targeting endogenous sulfur dioxide.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The findings suggest that sulfur dioxide is a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.</p>