Issue Archive

Research advances on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic biological effects of methane

HU Jing-Yun¹, CAI Ming², WANG Qian¹, LOU Shu-Jie^1,*

¹School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China；²School of Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China

Abstract

Methane (CH4) is the simplest hydrocarbons and endogenous CH4 has been thought only to be generated by methanogens in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract of the mammals. However, recent animal studies have shown that endogenous CH4 can also be generated from choline and its metabolites in the mammals to protect the plasma membrane from reactive oxygen species attack and repair the membrane. In addition, exogenous CH4 can ameliorate the oxidative stress injury of multiple tissues and organs through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptosis effects. This paper reviews the recent researches about CH4 synthetic metabolism and biological functions, and highlights its potential of wide application in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress related diseases and the significance for the development of gas medicine.

Key words: CH4;;;;

Received: 2017-07-03　　Accepted: 2018-01-11

Corresponding author: 娄淑杰　　E-mail: shujielou319@163.com

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2018.0007

Citing This Article：

HU Jing-Yun, CAI Ming, WANG Qian, LOU Shu-Jie. Research advances on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic biological effects of methane. Acta Physiol Sin 2018; 70 (1): 85-92 (in Chinese with English abstract).