Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Hydrogen sulfide is now considered the third member of the gasotransmitter family, along with nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. Cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) is a major H2S-producing enzyme in our body, and reduced functions of CSE/H2S system have been linked to different cardiovascular diseases. Blood vessel narrowing is a common consequence of pathological lesion in cardiovascular diseases, and artery smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration to inner layer of blood vessel is a key element in blood vessel narrowing. To date, the regulatory mechanisms underlying altered CSE expression in injured vessels and the functional relevance of CSE/H2S system in SMC phenotypes are unknown. Our studies found CSE expression was reduced in injured blood vessels, and CSE knockout enhance SMC migration in associated with increased vessel narrowing. Our study will also provide new therapeutic avenue for the treatment of proliferative cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, inhibition of SMC migration by H2S may be a novel target for the treatment of vascular occlusive disorder.