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

Abstract

Abstract 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) µmol/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.