N. V. Zaichko, A. V. Melnik, M. M. Yoltukhivskyy,
A. S. Olhovskiy, I. V. Palamarchuk

Pirogov Vinnytsya National Memorial Medical University, Ukraine
e-mail: nzaichko@mail.ru

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a signaling molecule that is actively synthesized in the tissues and is involved in the regulation of vascular tone, neuromodulation, cytoprotection, inflammation and apoptosis. In recent years, new data on animal and human H₂S metabolism and function under the effect of various endogenous and exogenous factors, including drugs were collected. This review is provided to introduce generalized information about the main and alternative H₂S metabolism and regulation, peculiarities of transport, signaling, biological role and participation in pathogenesis. Submitted data describe H₂S content and activity of H₂S-synthesizing enzymes in different organs, H₂S effect on blood coagulation and platelet aggregation based on our research results. The working classification of H₂S metabolism modulators, which are used in biology and medicine, is proposed: 1) agents that increase H₂S content in tissues (inorganic and organic H₂S donors; H₂S-synthesizing enzymes substrates and their derivatives, H₂S-releasing drugs; agents that contain H₂S-synthesizing enzymes cofactors and activators, agents that inhibit H₂S utilization); 2) agents that reduce H₂S content in tissues (specific and nonspecific inhibitors of H₂S-synthesizing enzymes), 3) agents with uncertain impact on H₂S metabolism (some medicines). It was demonstrated that vitamin-microelement and microelement complexes with H₂S-synthesizing enzymes cofactors and activators represent a promising approach for H₂S content correction in tissues.