Persistent oxidative stress has been recognized as a major cause of many pathological conditions or ageing. However, the most clinical trials with dietary antioxidants failed to show successful outcomes in preventing oxidative stress-related diseases...
Persistent oxidative stress has been recognized as a major cause of many pathological conditions or ageing. However, the most clinical trials with dietary antioxidants failed to show successful outcomes in preventing oxidative stress-related diseases. Recently, molecular hydrogen (H2) has received a great deal of attention as a therapeutic agent due to its novel
antioxidant property, but its underlying mechanisms remain very elusive. H2 was initially reported to selectively scavenge hydroxyl and peroxynitrite radicals. In the present study, we report a novel mechanism for the antioxidant properties of H2. Hydrogen-rich media activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central regulator of energy hemostasis, which in turn
induced FoxO1-dependent transcription of manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Moreover, hydrogen-rich media effectively reduced the level of reactive oxygen species in cells treated with hydrogen peroxide and protected the cells from apoptosis. These results suggest that AMPK signal pathway is a novel component for the antioxidant
properties of H2 in addition to its direct reactive oxygen species scavenging activity.