Hydrogen Research Study
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Laboratory or cellular evidenceLaboratory Studyinhaled hydrogen gas

Hydrogen-enriched preservation protects the isogeneic intestinal graft and amends recipient gastric function during transplantation.

Bettina M Buchholz, Kosuke Masutani, Tomohiro Kawamura, Ximei Peng, Yoshiya Toyoda, Timothy R Billiar, Anthony J Bauer, Atsunori Nakao · Transplantation · 2011

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H2HUBB Research Library branded molecular hydrogen research image
Primary topic Molecular Hydrogen Overview
Evidence type Laboratory or cellular evidence
Publication type Laboratory Study
Hydrogen method inhaled hydrogen gas

H2HUBB TAKEAWAY

In a laboratory model, reflecting improved graft preservation, hydrogen preloading of grafts increased recipient survival rates from 41% to 80%. The authors concluded that graft preloading with hydrogen demonstrated superior morphologic and functional graft protection in rodent intestinal transplantation, ultimately facilitating recipient survival. These findings come from a laboratory model and suggest molecular hydrogen's biological potential. Further research is needed to determine clinical relevance.

What the Researchers Tested

Here, the researchers investigated whether ex vivo donor organ treatment with dissolved hydrogen would prevent intestinal graft injury.

How Molecular Hydrogen Was Used

Isogeneic intestinal transplantation was performed in Lewis rats with vascular flush, luminal preservation, and cold graft storage in nitrogen-bubbled (SITxN2) or hydrogen-bubbled (SITxH2) preservation solution.

What Molecular Hydrogen Changed

Reflecting improved graft preservation, hydrogen preloading of grafts increased recipient survival rates from 41% to 80%.

Proposed Mechanism

During the early phase of ischemia-reperfusion injury, hydrogen-enriched solution significantly preserved mucosal graft morphology, diminished graft malondialdehyde levels demonstrating substantial reduction potential and blunted proinflammatory molecular responses (early growth response gene [EGR-1], interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) within the reperfused intestinal graft muscularis. Anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic heme oxygenase-1 was significantly upregulated in the hydrogen-treated graft muscularis but not mucosa before reperfusion. Inhaled hydrogen gas exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in rat intestinal transplantation. During the early phase of ischemia-reperfusion injury, hydrogen-enriched solution significantly preserved mucosal graft morphology, diminished graft malondialdehyde levels demonstrating substantial reduction potential and blunted proinflammatory molecular responses (early growth response gene [EGR-1], interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) within the reperfused intestinal graft muscularis.

Authors’ Conclusion

These findings come from a laboratory model and suggest molecular hydrogen's biological potential. Further research is needed to determine clinical relevance.