Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α

BackgroundEndogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and its key generating enzyme, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), prevent vascular remodeling and damage to target organs during the advancement of hypertension induced by a high-salt diet.ObjectiveThe contribution of the H2S/CBS pathway to high-salt–induced...

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Main Authors: Qian Peng, Pan Huang, Boyang Lv, Chaoshu Tang, Hongfang Jin, Yaqian Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1502269/full
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author Qian Peng
Pan Huang
Boyang Lv
Chaoshu Tang
Hongfang Jin
Hongfang Jin
Yaqian Huang
author_facet Qian Peng
Pan Huang
Boyang Lv
Chaoshu Tang
Hongfang Jin
Hongfang Jin
Yaqian Huang
author_sort Qian Peng
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundEndogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and its key generating enzyme, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), prevent vascular remodeling and damage to target organs during the advancement of hypertension induced by a high-salt diet.ObjectiveThe contribution of the H2S/CBS pathway to high-salt–induced myocardial fibrosis (MF) was explored, with a focus on the mechanistic involvement of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α).MethodsWe used primary rat cardiac fibroblasts stimulated with high-salt medium and an MF model induced by a high-salt diet in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a commonly used H2S donor, was administered in vitro at 100 μmol/L and in vivo at 90 μmol/kg to maintain adequate H2S levels. An HIF-1α stabilizer, dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), was used to maintain the HIF-1α protein level. The H2S/CBS pathway was followed using Western blotting and a sulfide-sensitive probe. The extent of MF was examined using histological and immunofluorescence staining techniques, including Sirius red and Masson trichrome. We performed Western blot analysis to measure fibrosis-related protein and HIF-1α protein levels.ResultsHigh-salt exposure reduced H2S production and downregulated CBS protein expression in cardiac fibroblasts both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the H2S donor inhibited the activation of cardiac fibroblasts triggered by high-salt conditions, while in vivo, it alleviated MF in salt-sensitive rats. From a mechanistic standpoint, high-salt exposure markedly upregulated HIF-1α expression. However, this increase was reversed by pretreatment with H2S. Furthermore, the HIF-1α stabilizer DMOG blocked the H2S-induced reduction in HIF-1α protein levels and consequently abolished the antifibrotic effect of H2S on cardiac fibroblasts exposed to high-salt conditions.ConclusionIn conclusion, H2S attenuates high-salt-induced MF by suppressing fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis, potentially via downregulation of HIF-1α.
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spelling doaj-art-ef8c35def696494780a682d2028d30fc2025-08-20T03:30:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15022691502269Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1αQian Peng0Pan Huang1Boyang Lv2Chaoshu Tang3Hongfang Jin4Hongfang Jin5Yaqian Huang6Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundEndogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and its key generating enzyme, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), prevent vascular remodeling and damage to target organs during the advancement of hypertension induced by a high-salt diet.ObjectiveThe contribution of the H2S/CBS pathway to high-salt–induced myocardial fibrosis (MF) was explored, with a focus on the mechanistic involvement of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α).MethodsWe used primary rat cardiac fibroblasts stimulated with high-salt medium and an MF model induced by a high-salt diet in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a commonly used H2S donor, was administered in vitro at 100 μmol/L and in vivo at 90 μmol/kg to maintain adequate H2S levels. An HIF-1α stabilizer, dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), was used to maintain the HIF-1α protein level. The H2S/CBS pathway was followed using Western blotting and a sulfide-sensitive probe. The extent of MF was examined using histological and immunofluorescence staining techniques, including Sirius red and Masson trichrome. We performed Western blot analysis to measure fibrosis-related protein and HIF-1α protein levels.ResultsHigh-salt exposure reduced H2S production and downregulated CBS protein expression in cardiac fibroblasts both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the H2S donor inhibited the activation of cardiac fibroblasts triggered by high-salt conditions, while in vivo, it alleviated MF in salt-sensitive rats. From a mechanistic standpoint, high-salt exposure markedly upregulated HIF-1α expression. However, this increase was reversed by pretreatment with H2S. Furthermore, the HIF-1α stabilizer DMOG blocked the H2S-induced reduction in HIF-1α protein levels and consequently abolished the antifibrotic effect of H2S on cardiac fibroblasts exposed to high-salt conditions.ConclusionIn conclusion, H2S attenuates high-salt-induced MF by suppressing fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis, potentially via downregulation of HIF-1α.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1502269/fullhydrogen sulfidehigh-salt dietHIF-1αmyocardial fibrosiscardiac fibroblasts
spellingShingle Qian Peng
Pan Huang
Boyang Lv
Chaoshu Tang
Hongfang Jin
Hongfang Jin
Yaqian Huang
Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
Frontiers in Pharmacology
hydrogen sulfide
high-salt diet
HIF-1α
myocardial fibrosis
cardiac fibroblasts
title Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
title_full Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
title_fullStr Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
title_full_unstemmed Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
title_short Hydrogen sulfide alleviates high-salt-stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α
title_sort hydrogen sulfide alleviates high salt stimulated myocardial fibrosis through inhibiting hypoxia inducible factor 1α
topic hydrogen sulfide
high-salt diet
HIF-1α
myocardial fibrosis
cardiac fibroblasts
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1502269/full
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AT boyanglv hydrogensulfidealleviateshighsaltstimulatedmyocardialfibrosisthroughinhibitinghypoxiainduciblefactor1a
AT chaoshutang hydrogensulfidealleviateshighsaltstimulatedmyocardialfibrosisthroughinhibitinghypoxiainduciblefactor1a
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