AUTHOR=Guo Fang-Fang , Yu Ta-Chung , Hong Jie , Fang Jing-Yuan 

TITLE=Emerging Roles of Hydrogen Sulfide in Inflammatory and Neoplastic Colonic Diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2016.00156

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2016.00156

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Hydrogen sulfide (H<sub>2</sub>S) is a toxic gas that has been recognized as an important mediator of many physiological processes, such as neurodegeneration, regulation of inflammation, blood pressure, and metabolism. In the human colon, H<sub>2</sub>S is produced by both endogenous enzymes and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). H<sub>2</sub>S is involved in the physiological and pathophysiological conditions of the colon, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC), which makes the pharmacological modulation of H<sub>2</sub>S production and metabolism a potential chemical target for the treatment of colonic diseases. However, the exact mechanisms and pathways by which H<sub>2</sub>S-mediates normal physiological function and disease in the colon are not fully understood. Besides, the production and release of H<sub>2</sub>S are modulated by both endogenous and exogenous factors. This review will discuss the production and storage of H<sub>2</sub>S, its biological roles and the emerging importance in physiology and pathology of IBD and CRC.</p>