Hydrogen sulfide and dermatological diseases

Skin diseases constitute a major health problem affecting a high proportion of the population every day and have different aetiologies that include inflammation, infections, and tumours. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a gaseous signalling molecule recognized as a gasotransmitter together with NO and carbon monoxide. Under physiological conditions, H 2 S is produced in the skin by enzymic pathways and plays a physiological role in a variety of functions, such as vasodilatation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation. Alterations of H 2 S production are implicated in a variety of dermatological diseases, such as psoriasis, melanoma, and other dermatoses. On the other hand, H 2 S-releasing-based therapies based on H 2 S donor compounds are being developed to treat some of these situations. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the role of H 2 S in the normal skin and its clinical and pathological significance, as well as the therapeutic potential of different H 2 S donors for treatment of skin diseases. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on Hydrogen Sulfide in Biology & Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.4/issuetoc.