Hydrogen-Rich Water Ameliorates Murine Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease through Antioxidation.

Abstract

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a major life-threatening complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and available interventions remain insufficient. Using a haploidentical bone marrow transplantation mouse model of scleroderma-type cGVHD, this study examined the effects of orally administered hydrogen-rich water. The one-month survival rate in the hydrogen group reached 93.3%, significantly exceeding the 66.7% observed in controls. At 96 days post-transplantation, clinical scores (2.2 vs. 4.5) and skin histopathological scores by both H&E and Masson staining were markedly lower in hydrogen-treated animals. Skin tissue expression of antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and NQO1 was elevated in cGVHD mice but was substantially reduced in the hydrogen group. Additionally, caspase-3 protein levels, a marker of apoptosis, were lower in hydrogen-treated mice (4.36 vs. 7.17). These findings indicate that hydrogen-rich water alleviates cGVHD pathology through antioxidant and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, supporting further clinical investigation.

Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water suppresses excessive upregulation of antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and NQO1 in skin tissue, reflecting reduced oxidative stress, while also decreasing caspase-3 expression, thereby attenuating apoptosis-driven pathology in cGVHD.