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Prospects of Hydrogen Medicine Based on Its Protective Effects on Mitochondrial Function

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Molecular Hydrogen in Health and Disease

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease ((ABHD,volume 27))

Abstract

Mitochondria originated from aerobic bacteria in endosymbiosis. Through this symbiosis, eukaryotes acquired an efficient energy-producing system, but at the cost of exposure to oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Molecular hydrogen (H2) was recently identified as an antioxidant that selectively reduces ROS, such as hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, which are strong oxidants, and its clinical applications are progressing. This paper investigated the efficacy of H2 on experimental models and several human chronic inflammatory diseases and demonstrated that its exerted effects via the protection of mitochondrial function. H2 protection may be exerted by regulation of mitochondrial ROS. Since mitochondrial dysfunction has been detected in many common diseases, such as metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, the development of technologies and substances that protect or activate mitochondrial function will be necessary for the future of medicine. H2 may be positioned as a candidate in future medicine due to its effects on mitochondrial function.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research and Development, MiZ Company Limited, Kanagawa, Japan

    Shin-ichi Hirano, Yusuke Ichikawa, Bunpei Sato & Fumitake Satoh

  2. Keio University (Professor Emeritus), Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshiyasu Takefuji

  3. Faculty of Data Science, Musashino University, Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshiyasu Takefuji

  4. Division of Transplantation Immunology, National Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan

    Xiao-Kang Li

Authors
  1. Shin-ichi Hirano
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  2. Yusuke Ichikawa
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  3. Bunpei Sato
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  4. Yoshiyasu Takefuji
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  5. Xiao-Kang Li
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  6. Fumitake Satoh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao-Kang Li .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Jan Slezak

  2. Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Branislav Kura

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Hirano, Si., Ichikawa, Y., Sato, B., Takefuji, Y., Li, XK., Satoh, F. (2024). Prospects of Hydrogen Medicine Based on Its Protective Effects on Mitochondrial Function. In: Slezak, J., Kura, B. (eds) Molecular Hydrogen in Health and Disease. Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease, vol 27. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47375-3_3

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