Hydrogen sulphide ameliorates ischaemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental model of non-heart-beating donor kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: : Therapies to alleviate ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury have an important role in kidney transplantation. This study used a porcine model of non-heart-beating (NHB) donor kidneys to investigate the effects of hydrogen sulphide on IR injury.

METHODS: : Porcine kidneys were subjected to 25 min of warm ischaemia and 18 h of cold storage. They were reperfused ex vivo with autologous oxygenated blood to assess renal function. A group treated with hydrogen sulphide (0.5 mmol/l) infused 10 min before and after reperfusion (n = 6) was compared with an untreated control group (n = 7).

RESULTS: : Hydrogen sulphide significantly improved renal blood flow compared with control values (mean(s.d.) area under the curve (AUC) 614.9(165.5) versus 270.3(86.7) ml per min per 100 g.h; P = 0.001) and renal function (AUC creatinine: 1640(248) versus 2328(154) micromol/l.h; P = 0.001; AUC creatinine clearance: 6.94(5.03) versus 0.96(0.32) ml per min per 100 g.h; P = 0.004). Oxidative damage was also reduced by hydrogen sulphide (urinary 8-isoprostane at 1 h of reperfusion: 478.9(237.1) versus 1605.6(632.7) pg/ml per mmol/l creatinine; P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION: : Hydrogen sulphide ameliorated the renal dysfunction associated with ischaemic damage, and has potential as a therapy against IR injury in NHB donor kidney transplantation.