Hydrogen Sulfide in Airway Diseases

Abstract

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is a colorless, water-soluble gas with the odor of rotten eggs. H2S can be produced via non-enzymatic pathways, but is mainly synthesized from L-cysteine as the substrate by Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), Cystathionine-β-synthetase (CBS) and 3-mer-captopyruvate sulfur transferase (3MTS).1 H2S is now recognized as the third signaling gas-otransmitter after Carbon monoxide (CO) and Nitric Oxide (NO), and it plays an important role in the pathophysiology of airway disease, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).