AUTHOR=Ngowi Ebenezeri Erasto , Sarfraz Muhammad , Afzal Attia , Khan Nazeer Hussain , Khattak Saadullah , Zhang Xin , Li Tao , Duan Shao-Feng , Ji Xin-Ying , Wu Dong-Dong 

TITLE=Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide Donors in Common Kidney Diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.564281

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.564281

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) plays a key role in the regulation of physiological processes in mammals. The decline in H<sub>2</sub>S level has been reported in numerous renal disorders. In animal models of renal disorders, treatment with H<sub>2</sub>S donors could restore H<sub>2</sub>S levels and improve renal functions. H<sub>2</sub>S donors suppress renal dysfunction by regulating autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation through multiple signaling pathways, such as TRL4/NLRP3, AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin, transforming growth factor-β1/Smad3, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa B. In this review, we summarize recent developments in the effects of H<sub>2</sub>S donors on the treatment of common renal diseases, including acute/chronic kidney disease, renal fibrosis, unilateral ureteral obstruction, glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, hyperhomocysteinemia, drug-induced nephrotoxicity, metal-induced nephrotoxicity, and urolithiasis. Novel H<sub>2</sub>S donors can be designed and applied in the treatment of common renal diseases.</p>