Research progress of hydrogen sulfide in acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury is becoming a common and increasingly frequent disease. It is caused by a variety of factors, including ischemia reperfusion, nephrotoxic drugs and sepsis, eventually progresses to chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. Hydrogen sulfide （H₂S） is the third endogenous gas signaling molecule secondary to nitric oxide and carbon monoxide that can be synthesized in almost all organs, including the kidney. Although research on the regulation of H₂S in kidney physiology and pathophysiology is in its infancy, there is evidence that H₂S production by kidney cells is reduced in disease states and H₂S donors can ameliorate kidney damage. Specifically, abnormal H₂S levels have been associated with a variety of renal pathological conditions, including acute kidney injury. This article reviewed the role and research progress of H₂S in acute kidney injury, and discussed the prospect and challenge of H₂S in the treatment of kidney disease, providing new ideas for clinical application of H₂S.