["Waste gas is not waste": advance in the research of hydrogen sulfide].

The discovery of endogenous gasotransmitters puts forwards a new concept, "waste gas is not waste". Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is considered as a new member of gasotransmitter family, following nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Recently, the understanding of H(2)S biological effect and its mechanisms has been deepened, especially the pathophysiological significance of H(2)S in the various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, endocrine diseases, etc. This article reviews recent progress of basic, clinical and pharmacological researches related to endogenous H(2)S, including the regulatory effects of H(2)S on the cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis and ion channels, the role of endogenous H(2)S pathway in the pathogenesis of various diseases, as well as the study of the H(2)S donor and H(2)S-related drugs.