Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates high glucose-induced endothelial cell senescence by suppressing oxidative stress

AIM：To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide on the senescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by high glucose. METHODS：Senescence model was established by treating HUVECs with 33 mmol/L glucose for 48 h. The parameters were detected to demonstrate the effect of hydrogen sulfide on senescence and the mechanism involved was also investigated. RESULTS：In the cells treated with high glucose, the proliferation was attenuated with a higher number of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) positive cells, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) protein expression, malondialdehyde (MDA) production and NF-κB p65 activity were increased significantly, but the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was decreased. However, the cell number and SOD1 expression were increased, and the number of SA-β-Gal positive cells, PAI-1 protein expression, MDA production and the activity of NF-κB p65 were decreased after sodium hydrosulfide (100 and 200 μmol/L) treatment.CONCLUSION：Exo-genous hydrogen sulfide prevents HUVECs against high glucose-induced senescence by suppressing oxidative stress and NF-κB p65 activity.