Hydrogen sulfide as a regulatory factor in kidney health and disease.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is synthesized in nearly all organ systems including the kidney. Recent findings have revealed that H2S functions as a gasotransmitter affecting a wide range of physiologic functions similar to other gasotransmitters nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Research on H2S regulation of kidney function is still in early stages. H2S increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and inhibits sodium absorption by the tubules. There is burgeoning evidence that H2S generation by kidney cells is reduced in acute and chronic disease states and that H2S donors ameliorate injury. However, there are hints that the gas could also mediate kidney injury in specific models suggesting that its participation in kidney pathology is context-dependent. Expanding investigation of H2S in kidney physiology and disease will not only help us understand its regulatory role but it may also give us a potential new target for therapeutic intervention.