Hydrogen sulfide attenuates endothelial cell senescence via inhibiting over-phosphorylation of protein kinase B

AIM To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide on the senescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and the possibly involved mechanism. METHODS Senescence model was established by treating HUVECs with H₂O₂ at 60 μmol/L for 1 h and then cultured for 24 h. The several parameters were detected to demonstrate the effect of hydrogen sulfide on senescence by Western blot. RESULTS In the cells treated with H₂O₂, a larger proportion of cells were stained with β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal), and the protein expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) was dramatically increased (P<0.05). The less SA-β-Gal positive cells and decreased protein of PAI-1 were detected when the cells were pretreated with 100 μmol/L sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). Furthermore, NaHS treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt). Meanwhile, LY294002, the specific inhibitor of Akt, was also able to reverse the cellular senescence induced by H₂O₂ in HUVECs. CONCLUSION Exogenous hydrogen sulfide prevents HUVECs against H₂O₂-induced senescence partially via the inhibition of Akt over-phosphorylation.