The following is a summary of “Recent advances in the mechanism of hydrogen sulfide in wound healing in diabetes,” published in the December 2023 issue of Endocrinology by Yang et al.
Wound-healing complications in diabetes present a significant clinical challenge, imposing substantial burdens on both patients and society. Recent attention has been drawn to exploring the mechanisms underlying wound healing and potential treatments for diabetic wounds. Notably, emerging studies have highlighted the favorable role of hydrogen sulfide in facilitating wound healing in diabetic conditions. As a confirmed gas transmitter in mammals, hydrogen sulfide plays a crucial role in both physiological functions and pathological conditions. This review aims to elucidate the intricate mechanisms through which hydrogen sulfide contributes to promoting wound healing in diabetes, shedding light on the therapeutic potential of hydrogen sulfide supplementation.
Diabetic individuals commonly face challenges in wound healing owing to the complex microenvironment and the underlying pathogenesis of diabetes. Consequently, diabetic wounds often exhibit poor prognosis and a heightened disability rate, posing substantial economic and physical burdens on affected individuals. The wound healing process typically involves sequential phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. However, diabetic wounds often linger in a chronic inflammatory state due to the inadequate control of blood glucose levels inherent in diabetes.
This chronic inflammation frequently impedes the natural progression of wound healing. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a recognized gas transmitter, exerting diverse regulatory functions in mammalian physiology. It possesses unique properties, notably its ability to traverse biofilms without necessitating transport proteins, offering promising benefits to tissues. These benefits include antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties, all of which promote wound healing. H2S has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent capable of enhancing the wound-healing process in diabetes. This review consolidates current understandings of the mechanisms through which hydrogen sulfide exerts its beneficial effects, potentially paving the way for innovative hydrogen sulfide-based therapies for diabetic wound management.
Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006291X23014377
