Thermal Waters and the Hormetic Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide on Inflammatory Arthritis and Wound Healing

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), previously only considered a toxic environmental air pollutant, has gained increasing recognition as an important signaling molecule able to modulate several cellular pathways in many human tissues. Moreover, H2S is a molecule dissolved in many thermal spring waters at variable concentration. The H2S effects of thermal water treatments have long been studied for several dermatological and clinical treatments. In particular, H2S has recently attracted much interest as a crucial mediator of many aspects of inflammation, and most importantly as a factor promoting the resolution of inflammation and healing of injured tissue. Although the potential beneficial effects of H2S in the pathophysiology of wound healing are not well known, recent studies suggest a role for H2S in neovascularization, angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. From a hormetic standpoint, the specific goal of this chapter is to describe the biological actions of H2S in thermal spring waters highlighting its potential regenerative role in osteoarthritis and wound healing