Hydrogen Sulfide: a Novel Immunoinflammatory Regulator in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an endogenous, gaseous, signaling transmitter, has been shown to have vasodilative, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective activities. Increasing evidence also indicates that H2S can suppress the production of inflammatory mediators by immune cells, for example, T cells and macrophages. Inflammation is closely related to an immune response in several diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and cancer. Considering these biological effects of H2S, a potential role in the treatment of immune-related RA is being exploited. In the present review, we will provide an overview of the therapeutic potential of H2S in RA treatment.