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Hydrogen sulfide present inside human knee joint, may have anti-inflammatory properties
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Hydrogen sulfide can be found naturally in the synovial fluid of the knee joint and may play a role in reducing inflammation, according to a recent study.
“We are only just starting to unravel what hydrogen sulfide does in the body and how to manipulate it,” study leader Matthew Whiteman, BSc, PhD, stated in a press release. “Since hydrogen sulfide is naturally produced in our bodies by enzymes which use predominately sulfur-containing amino acids such as cysteine, methionine and homocysteine, it may be possible to manipulate the activity of these enzymes to increase their activity — possibly by dietary means — to boost the body’s ability to deal with inflammation and tissue damage.”
The research was presented at the New York Academy of Sciences’ 4th International Conference on Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Disease, and published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
A “novel mediator”
The study compared hydrogen sulfide in blood samples and knee joint synovial fluid from healthy patients and those with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Knees with rheumatoid arthritis were reportedly found to have higher concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in their synovial fluid compared to controls, and up to fourfold higher levels than blood samples from the same patients.
The researchers found that higher hydrogen sulfide levels were associated with disease activity and lowered counts of inflammatory cells, which suggests that hydrogen sulfide may be a “novel mediator” naturally produced by the body to control inflammation.
Further study needed
The researchers noted that the discovery opens the door for further study into how hydrogen sulfide could be used as a therapeutic and possibly “natural” option for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
“Chronic inflammatory diseases are by their very nature debilitating, and current pharmaceutical interventions can occasionally exacerbate patients’ discomfort,” Whiteman stated. “Traditional anti-inflammatory drugs are very potent and safe, but they can sometimes damage the stomach lining in some individuals, leading to further complications.”
“By identifying a clear link between levels of hydrogen sulfide in synovial fluid and inflammation, we can apply our earlier synthesis of a new molecule to control the delivery of hydrogen sulfide more effectively,” he added. “We leave the way open for the development of hydrogen sulfide-based therapies that provide the benefits of traditional anti-inflammatory drugs without their unpleasant side effects.”
Reference:
- Whiteman M. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2010;(1203):146-150. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05556.x
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