Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a recognized environmental pollutant, comes from a wide range of sources. For example, H₂S will be produced in the process of plant protein corruption, the decomposition of domestic sewage and garbage, food processing (wine brewing), etc. and once the concentration is too high, it will cause significant damage of environment and human body. Besides, H₂S is a ubiquitous small gaseous signaling molecule. H₂S join nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in the group of signaling agents termed gasotransmitters. H₂S plays an improtant role in oxidative stress processes, cell protection, signal transduction and related diseases. In the last decade, H₂S shows anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, mitochondrial protection, anti-apoptosis, and angiogenesis effects. H₂S plays a key role in the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system.

Endogenous concentrations of H₂S are generally low, making it difficult to discern precise biological functions. As such, probing the physiological roles of H₂S is aided by exogenous delivery of the gas in cell and animal studies. This need for an exogenous source of H₂S provides a unique challenge for chemists to develop chemical tools that facilitate the study of H₂S under biological conditions.

GYY4137 is a slow releasing H₂S donor.

Compounds that degrade in response to a specific trigger to release H₂S, termed H₂S donors. GYY4137 is a slow-releasing H₂S donor. Therefore, GYY4137 exhibits vasodilator and antihypertensive activity. Meanwhile, it does not influence vascular smooth muscle cell viability in culture. When given intravenously, it is effective in rats, in either the acut or chronic hypertension models. What’s more, GYY4137 also exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities.

All in all, GYY4137 is a slow releasing H₂S donor with vasodilator and antihypertensive activity. In addition, it shows anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.

References:
Powell CR, et, al. Biochem Pharmacol. 2018 Mar;149:110-123.