Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis

Dietary restriction (DR) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for various pathological conditions. This study investigated the effects of DR on cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in mice. Animals were subjected to controlled food restriction for 1 week prior to cyclophosphamide adminis...

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Main Authors: Zhimin Mao, Ping Chen, Qun Ji, Xiuling Zhao, Kun Zhong, Xuhui Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562852/full
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author Zhimin Mao
Ping Chen
Qun Ji
Xiuling Zhao
Kun Zhong
Xuhui Zeng
author_facet Zhimin Mao
Ping Chen
Qun Ji
Xiuling Zhao
Kun Zhong
Xuhui Zeng
author_sort Zhimin Mao
collection DOAJ
description Dietary restriction (DR) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for various pathological conditions. This study investigated the effects of DR on cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in mice. Animals were subjected to controlled food restriction for 1 week prior to cyclophosphamide administration. We evaluated changes in body weight, bladder pathology, redox status, and ferroptotic parameters. DR significantly attenuated cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis severity, as evidenced by reduced bladder weight, decreased lipid peroxidation, and diminished ferroptotic markers in bladder tissue. Mechanistic investigations revealed that DR upregulated hepatic hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-synthesizing enzymes and enhanced H2S production. Inhibition of H2S-synthesizing enzymes with DL-propargylglycine (PAG) and aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) exacerbated cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis, whereas administration of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), an H2S donor, markedly ameliorated bladder pathology. In vitro studies demonstrated that H2S donors, NaHS and DATS, protected against cyclophosphamide metabolite acrolein (ACR)-induced urothelial cell death by suppressing oxidative stress, as indicated by reduced p38 MAPK activation and protein carbonylation. These findings suggest that DR confers protection against cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis through the induction of endogenous H2S production and inhibition of ferroptosis. Our study provides additional evidence supporting the health-promoting effects of DR as well as novel mechanistic insights into the beneficial effects of DR. Given H2S has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties and that oxidative stress and ferroptosis underlie various diseases, our finding could have broader implications.
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spelling doaj-art-bfb50cf3649645bfb636e9a6308af98d2025-08-20T02:15:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15628521562852Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitisZhimin MaoPing ChenQun JiXiuling ZhaoKun ZhongXuhui ZengDietary restriction (DR) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for various pathological conditions. This study investigated the effects of DR on cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis in mice. Animals were subjected to controlled food restriction for 1 week prior to cyclophosphamide administration. We evaluated changes in body weight, bladder pathology, redox status, and ferroptotic parameters. DR significantly attenuated cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis severity, as evidenced by reduced bladder weight, decreased lipid peroxidation, and diminished ferroptotic markers in bladder tissue. Mechanistic investigations revealed that DR upregulated hepatic hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-synthesizing enzymes and enhanced H2S production. Inhibition of H2S-synthesizing enzymes with DL-propargylglycine (PAG) and aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) exacerbated cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis, whereas administration of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), an H2S donor, markedly ameliorated bladder pathology. In vitro studies demonstrated that H2S donors, NaHS and DATS, protected against cyclophosphamide metabolite acrolein (ACR)-induced urothelial cell death by suppressing oxidative stress, as indicated by reduced p38 MAPK activation and protein carbonylation. These findings suggest that DR confers protection against cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis through the induction of endogenous H2S production and inhibition of ferroptosis. Our study provides additional evidence supporting the health-promoting effects of DR as well as novel mechanistic insights into the beneficial effects of DR. Given H2S has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties and that oxidative stress and ferroptosis underlie various diseases, our finding could have broader implications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562852/fulldietary restrictionhydrogen sulfidecyclophosphamideacroleincystitisoxidative stress
spellingShingle Zhimin Mao
Ping Chen
Qun Ji
Xiuling Zhao
Kun Zhong
Xuhui Zeng
Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
Frontiers in Pharmacology
dietary restriction
hydrogen sulfide
cyclophosphamide
acrolein
cystitis
oxidative stress
title Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
title_full Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
title_fullStr Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
title_full_unstemmed Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
title_short Hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction-induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
title_sort hydrogen sulfide and ferroptosis inhibition underlies the dietary restriction induced protection against cyclophosphamide cystitis
topic dietary restriction
hydrogen sulfide
cyclophosphamide
acrolein
cystitis
oxidative stress
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562852/full
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AT pingchen hydrogensulfideandferroptosisinhibitionunderliesthedietaryrestrictioninducedprotectionagainstcyclophosphamidecystitis
AT qunji hydrogensulfideandferroptosisinhibitionunderliesthedietaryrestrictioninducedprotectionagainstcyclophosphamidecystitis
AT xiulingzhao hydrogensulfideandferroptosisinhibitionunderliesthedietaryrestrictioninducedprotectionagainstcyclophosphamidecystitis
AT kunzhong hydrogensulfideandferroptosisinhibitionunderliesthedietaryrestrictioninducedprotectionagainstcyclophosphamidecystitis
AT xuhuizeng hydrogensulfideandferroptosisinhibitionunderliesthedietaryrestrictioninducedprotectionagainstcyclophosphamidecystitis