Homocysteine and H2S in Health and Disease, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 378

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences, University Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr 34, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
Interests: cell physiology; ion channels; Ca2+-activated K+ channels; cellular excitability; gasotransmitters
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Guest Editor
Department of Physiology of Man and Animals, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
Interests: neurophysiology; development; homocysteine; ion channels; hydrogen sulfide; synaptic transmission; migraine; pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following a very successful first publication of the Special Issue “Homocysteine and H2S in Health and Disease”, we are now pleased to announce the launch of a second edition that will focus on new and interesting discoveries and their medical applications in the field. 

Homocysteine (Hcy) and gaseous hydrogen sulphide (H2S) are two physiologically active molecules produced in the metabolic cycle of methionine that must be precisely regulated. An increased level of homocysteine in the plasm, called hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), may be the result of several hereditary and acquired factors, including a deficiency or genetic polymorphism of enzymes associated with homocysteine metabolism; renal failure; a deficit of vitamins B6, B9 and B12; or the administration of medication such as antiepileptic drugs or L-DOPA. HHcy induces oxidative stress and inflammation in many tissues and is associated with numerous pathologies like cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, osteoporosis, migraine, epilepsy, developmental disorders, etc.

Hcy levels are regulated by remethylation and transsulfuration pathways. The key enzymes in transsulfuration pathways are cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase, which are involved in the biosynthesis of H2S. In addition, H2S can be synthesized by the activity of cysteine aminotransferase and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase.

In this Special Issue, we will focus on the links between the metabolism of homocysteine and H2S, the imbalance of homocysteine and H2S in different pathologies, the mechanisms behind the protective effects of H2S in homocysteine toxicity, and approaches to maintaining the endogenous balance between these two molecules to prevent this condition in patients.

Prof. Dr. Anton Hermann
Prof. Dr. Guzel F. Sitdikova
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • homocysteine (Hcy)
  • hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
  • oxidative stress
  • inflammation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 1909 KiB  
Article
The Role of Purinergic Mechanisms in the Excitability of Trigeminal Afferents of Rats with Prenatal Hyperhomocysteinemia
by Elizaveta Ermakova, Svetlana Svitko, Alsu Kabirova, Egor Nevsky, Olga Yakovleva, Karina Gilizhdinova, Kseniia Shaidullova, Anton Hermann and Guzel Sitdikova
Biomolecules 2025, 15(3), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15030419 - 15 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood plasma (hyperhomocysteinemia, HHCY) positively correlate with migraine symptoms in patients. Experimental studies show a higher sensitivity of rats with prenatal HHCY (pHHCY) to migraine symptoms like allodynia, photophobia, anxiety, and a higher excitability of meningeal trigeminal [...] Read more.
Elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood plasma (hyperhomocysteinemia, HHCY) positively correlate with migraine symptoms in patients. Experimental studies show a higher sensitivity of rats with prenatal HHCY (pHHCY) to migraine symptoms like allodynia, photophobia, anxiety, and a higher excitability of meningeal trigeminal afferents. In the present study, the roles of purinergic mechanisms in the homocysteine-induced hyperexcitability of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) system using electrophysiological recordings from the trigeminal nerve, Ca2+ imaging of cells isolated from TG, and mast cell staining in meninges were investigated. Experiments were performed using rats with pHHCY born from females fed with a high-methionine-containing diet before and during pregnancy. Firstly, we found that lower concentrations of 4-aminopyridine, a K+-channel blocker, were able to induce an increase in the nociceptive activity of trigeminal afferents, supporting the hypothesis of the higher excitability of the trigeminal nerve of rats with pHHCY. Trigeminal afferents of rats with pHHCY were more sensitive to the exogenous application of the nonspecific agonist of purinergic ATP receptors. In neurons and satellite glial cells of TG of rats with pHHCY ATP, ADP (an agonist of metabotropic P2Y receptors) and BzATP (an agonist of ionotropic P2X with especially high potency for the P2X7 receptor) induced larger Ca2+ transients. The incubation of TG neurons in homocysteine for 24 h increased the ratio of neurons responding simultaneously to ATP and capsaicin. Moreover, rats with pHHCY exhibit a higher rate of degranulation of mast cells and increased response to the agonist of the P2X7 receptor BzATP application. In addition, higher levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were found in rats with pHHCY. Our results suggest that chronic elevated levels of homocysteine induce the upregulation of ionotropic or metabotropic ATP receptors in neurons, satellite glial cells, and mast cells, which further provide inflammatory conditions and the sensitization of peripheral afferents underlying pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Homocysteine and H2S in Health and Disease, 2nd Edition)
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