Hydrogen-rich pure water prevents cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema in SMP30 knockout mice.

Abstract

Using SMP30 knockout (SMP30-KO) mice as a COPD model, this study examined whether hydrogen-rich pure water could mitigate lung damage caused by 8 weeks of cigarette smoke (CS) exposure. Oral administration of hydrogen-rich water led to measurable improvements in mean linear intercept and destructive index, along with restoration of static lung compliance. Oxidative DNA damage markers—phosphorylated histone H2AX and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine—were significantly reduced, as were cellular senescence markers including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21), and β-galactosidase. These findings indicate that molecular hydrogen attenuates CS-induced emphysematous changes by suppressing oxidative DNA damage and stress-induced premature senescence in lung tissue, suggesting a potential preventive role for hydrogen-rich water in COPD-related pathology.

Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals generated by cigarette smoke, thereby reducing oxidative DNA damage (γ-H2AX, 8-OHdG) and suppressing stress-induced premature cellular senescence (p16, p21, β-galactosidase upregulation) in lung tissue, which collectively attenuates emphysematous remodeling.